In mid-December, Brian Armstrong, 42, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, shared a Christmas photo with his wife, Angela Meng, on social media platform X. The couple wore matching snowflake-patterned outfits, smiling. "Celebrating the holidays with my best friend", the billionaire wrote.

This personal moment garnered attention from the tech community, as Brian Armstrong is known for his private life. Many became curious about the woman who had won the heart of the crypto mogul.

Brian Armstrong and his wife Angela Meng's warm Christmas photo. Photo: QQ

Angela Meng was born in 1990 in Beijing, China. At 11, she immigrated to the US with her parents. Her initial days in the new country were difficult. Language barriers, cultural differences, and modest economic circumstances led to Angela experiencing school bullying.

Undeterred by adversity, she focused on her studies and gained admission to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), majoring in History and International Relations. During college, Angela worked as a part-time model to support her family. Friends recalled her busy schedule: attending classes in the morning, photoshoots in the afternoon, and studying at the library in the evenings.

After graduation, she chose journalism over entertainment. In 2013, she joined the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, later moving to Reuters in Beijing to cover technology and investment. After several years, Angela transitioned to finance, joining the prominent investment bank Lazard in New York. She was among the few Asian female analysts participating in mergers and acquisitions valued at tens of billions of USD.

Angela first met Brian Armstrong in 2019 at a technology event in San Francisco. Brian was an influential figure, a graduate of Rice University with two bachelor's degrees and one master's degree, who had worked at IBM and Airbnb before co-founding Coinbase.

Instead of small talk, Angela captivated Brian with sharp insights into cryptocurrency regulation policies.

Brian Armstrong and his wife Angela Meng on their wedding day in 2024. Photo: QQ

They began as friends, finding common ground in their thinking. Brian was captivated by the intellect and independence of the Chinese-American woman, while Angela appreciated the billionaire's calm demeanor and humor.

They officially began dating in 2021 but kept their relationship private. Even Coinbase's leadership only learned the news upon receiving their wedding invitations.

Close friends revealed that during the 2022 cryptocurrency market downturn, which saw Coinbase's stock lose 80% of its value, Angela provided steadfast emotional support for Brian. Leveraging her financial knowledge, she helped him analyze reports and adjust strategies daily.

Brian Armstrong and his wife Angela Meng on their wedding day. Photo: QQ

In 10/2024, Brian Armstrong announced their marriage. The wedding was simple and intimate. The couple currently lives in Los Angeles. While Brian manages his crypto empire with a market capitalization of nearly USD 70 billion, Angela pursues her own career, operating a venture capital fund that supports female entrepreneurs.

Bao Nhien (According to Coinpaper, QQ, 163)