The woman behind Coinbase’s billionaire founder Brian Armstrong: Angela Meng’s journey from bullied immigrant to financial professional

In mid-December, Armstrong, 42, founder of the world’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, shared a photo celebrating Christmas with his wife, Angela Meng, on social media platform X.

In the image, the couple wears matching outfits, posing for a picture with their dog in front of a Christmas tree. "Happy Holidays from my family to yours," Armstrong captioned the post.

This intimate moment drew attention from the tech community, as Armstrong is known for his privacy regarding personal matters. Many were curious about the woman who captured the heart of the crypto tycoon.

Angela Meng and husband, founder of crypto exchange Coinbase, Brian Armstrong. Photo courtesy of Armstrong's X

Angela, 35, was born in Beijing, China, and moved to the U.S. with her parents at the age of 11. According to QQ, the early years in a foreign country were difficult for Angela. Language barriers, cultural differences, and financial struggles led her to become a target of school bullying.

Determined not to be defeated, she focused on her studies, eventually earning a place at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she majored in History and International Relations. During her time there, Angela supported her family by working as a part-time model with renowned agencies like Elite Model Management and LA Models, as reported by Coinpaper. Her friends recall her hectic schedule: attending classes in the morning, modeling in the afternoon, and studying in the library at night.

After graduation, Angela chose journalism over the entertainment industry. In 2013, she joined the South China Morning Post newspaper in Hong Kong, covering politics and society, and later moved to Reuters in Beijing, where she covered the tech and investment sectors. A few years later, she transitioned to finance, joining investment bank Lazard in New York. At that time, she was one of the few Asian female analysts involved in multi-billion-dollar mergers.

Angela met Armstrong in 2019 at a technology event in San Francisco. By then, Armstrong had already made a name for himself in the tech world.

He graduated from Rice University, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in economics and computer science and later earned a master's degree in computer science. Armstrong began his career as a developer at IBM, worked as a consultant for Deloitte, and then joined Airbnb as a software engineer.

In 2012, he co-founded Coinbase with Fred Ehrsam, whom he met on Reddit. Sharing a bullish view on the cryptocurrency space and with the mission to "make crypto easy to use," they launched the company from a two-bedroom apartment, CNBC reported.

What struck Armstrong during their earliest exchanges with Angela was her sharp perspectives on cryptocurrency policy. Their relationship began as a friendship, rooted in mutual respect for each other’s intellect. Armstrong was drawn to Angela’s intelligence and independence, while she appreciated his calm demeanor and sense of humor.

In 2021, the couple began dating but kept it entirely private. Even Coinbase's leadership only learned of their relationship when they received wedding invitations. Close friends revealed that during the cryptocurrency market crash in 2022, which saw Coinbase’s stock lose 80% of its value, Angela provided strong emotional support for Armstrong. With her financial background, she worked alongside him, analyzing reports and adjusting strategies daily.

Angela and Armstrong on their wedding day. Photo courtesy of Armstrong's X

On Oct. 9, 2024, Armstrong announced their marriage. "I got married this past weekend to my long-term partner and best friend, Angela Meng! Can’t wait to build a life together," he wrote in a post on X.

The couple's wedding was simple and intimate. U.S. luxury fashion house Vera Wang revealed in an Instagram post that Angela wore two custom Vera Wang Haute gowns for the ceremony and left a comment: "What an amazing couple! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!"

The couple now resides in Los Angeles, where Armstrong continues to lead his cryptocurrency empire. Coinbase is now the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange behind Binance, with a market cap of over $67 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Armstrong’s net worth is estimated at $10.7 billion, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, Angela is pursuing her own career, running a venture capital fund that supports female entrepreneurs.