Coinbase will be a remote-first company

The reason is that while remote/WFH works well for people who are largely executing already formed plans, it's the planning of new work that requires the most interpersonal work/subtle communication/high bandwidth communication. So companies are finding that they are executing well right now because they're just working on shipping. But when it comes to making decisions for upcoming iterations, the technology won't support the communication types needed. Yes, fully remote companies can exist, but they're limited in size to those companies where the product vision can come directly from the CEO, so that the strategy, roadmap, and funding allocations just sprout fully realized.

I have no doubt that Apple engineers can (and will) design the next generation of Apple Watch while remote. I have a lot of doubt that they could invent the next multibillion dollar technology category, and get the internal political work to physically realize it, while remote.

I know of coworkers who are single and really looking back to get back to the office because they are sick of being alone in their small apartments for days at a time.

I also know of coworkers who are married with family and can't wait to get back to the office because they need to take breaks from their spouses/kids from time to time.

There's a difference between working from home as an employee and a remote consulting job. There is a place for both.

> The cynical part of me thinks all this "WFH Permanently" initiative is just a disguise for companies to start lowering cost for entry to mid-level IC positions by hiring from areas with much cheaper CoL.

Why is it cynical? It really benefits everyone:

1. "Remote" workers: Workers can stay at their (lower CoL) homes, with their friends, family and culture, and still work on products they couldn't otherwise.

2. Consumers: More competition, as barrier to entry is lower

3. Companies: No need to raise huge funding rounds for the most basic of products or the initial prototype

4. "Local" workers: Not everyone is relocating to your home town, so it becomes a little cheaper CoL for them too

This is a pretty straightforward advantage of the internet. Some jobs have always been "remote". For example, writers still type their manuscripts from anywhere and mail them to editors. However, only some jobs work like this. When I did service or blue collar work I always had to be on the site to physically work the capital.

As for "career ambition", you can make plenty of money or a modest income from remote jobs. Beyond jobs, you can easily own an online business or some other digital capital through the same infrastructure. There is more to life and to work than a high salary. Greed is not a virtue.

You don't have to sell your soul and most of the waking hours of your life to commute to an office, deal with the attached bullshit, and integrate yourself into the corporate machine.

Instead, you have the freedom to actually live your life. Be with you family, friends, pursue your passions, even something as simple as being able access nature or travel freely. Whatever living means to you beyond working.

From the outside looking in, the mirage of SV corporate culture seems really fake and hollow. I do not want a hip fancy office full of zany perks and a weird cult. I understand the power balance as a worker. In any job, I want to put in my time and hard work, earn an honest living, and then be free to live as a real human being.