Coinbase Global, Inc.

18. INCOME TAXES

The components of income (loss) before income taxes were attributable to the following regions (in thousands):

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

The table below provides the updated requirements of ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”) for 2025 and 2024.

The effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 differs from the statutory federal income tax rate as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

(1)State and local taxes in California, Texas, and New York City made up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in this category.

The Company’s effective tax rate of 17.20% for the year ended December 31, 2025 is due primarily to tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by state taxes and nondeductible expenses, including the impact of certain non-US losses.

The Company’s effective tax rate of 12.36% for the year ended December 31, 2024 is due primarily to tax benefits related to stock-based compensation and federal R&D credits, reduced by state taxes and certain nondeductible compensation.

As previously disclosed for the year ended December 31, 2023, prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09, the effective income tax rate differs from the statutory federal income tax rate as follows:

The Company’s effective tax rate of 223.46% for the year ended December 31, 2023 is due primarily to a reduction of a valuation allowance related to impairment charges on crypto assets held and strategic investments and tax benefits related to federal R&D credits, reduced by certain nondeductible compensation, tax on non-U.S. earnings, and other nondeductible expenses related to political contributions.

The Company’s effective tax rate can be volatile based on the amount of pretax income or loss in the reporting period. For example, when pretax income is lower, the effect of reconciling items to the U.S. statutory rate, such as nondeductible expenses, will have a greater impact on the effective tax rate.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

At each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could affect its view of the future realization of deferred tax assets. On the basis of this evaluation, only the portion of the deferred tax asset that is more likely than not to be realized was recognized. However, if the Company is not able to generate sufficient taxable income from its operations in the future, then a valuation allowance to reduce the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets may be required, which would increase the Company’s expenses in the period the allowance is recognized.

On July 4, 2025, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBB”) was signed into law in the United States. OBBB includes significant changes to U.S. federal tax law, such as an elective deduction for domestic research and experimental expenditures, and changes to the tax rate on income from non-U.S. sources and subsidiaries. OBBB did not have a material impact on our current year effective tax rate. However, it did contribute to a decrease in the Company’s net deferred tax asset balance due to current year expensing of previously capitalized research and experimentation expenditures.

Activity related to the Company’s valuation allowance consisted of the following (in thousands):

The Company’s valuation allowance as of December 31, 2025 was higher compared to 2024 due primarily to an increase in the valuation allowance related to foreign losses, partially offset by a decrease in the valuation allowance related to California R&D credits.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company also had R&D credits of $38.1 million and $112.4 million for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively. If not utilized, the federal R&D credits will expire in various amounts beginning in 2043. However, the state of California R&D credits can be carried forward indefinitely. The Company also had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $48.8 million as of December 31, 2025, and an estimated $45.8 million as of December 31, 2024. The U.S. federal net operating losses carry forward indefinitely. Additionally, the Company had U.S. state net operating losses of approximately $401.6 million as of December 31, 2025. Generally, California and other significant U.S. states have a twenty-year carryforward for net operating losses.

Activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits consisted of the following (in thousands):

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $175.2 million and $136.8 million, respectively, which would reduce income tax expense and affect the effective tax rate, if recognized. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to exposures as a component of income tax expense. The Company recorded $6.7 million and $1.3 million of accrued interest and penalties, respectively, as of December 31, 2025 and $2.5 million and $3.5 million of accrued interest and penalties, respectively, as of December 31, 2024.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. (federal and state) and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is currently under audit by the IRS with respect to its federal income tax returns for 2020 and 2021, and its income tax returns for certain years in state and local jurisdictions such as California and New York. The Company is also under audit for certain years in foreign jurisdictions such as India, Kenya and the Netherlands.