Coinbase Burns $25M NFT to Restart Crypto Podcast 'UpOnly'

Coinbase Burns $25 Million NFT to Restart Defunct Crypto Podcast 'UpOnly'

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: October 21, 2025

Key Takeaways

Coinbase spent $25 million to buy and burn an NFT that triggers the return of the UpOnly crypto podcast;
The NFT, tied to the show's revival, was sent to Cobie, one of the podcast’s original hosts;
Despite low bids on OpenSea, the NFT became one of the priciest ever sold after Coinbase’s purchase.

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The crypto exchange Coinbase $3.11B has spent $25 million to buy and destroy a non-fungible token (NFT) linked to the return of a crypto podcast, UpOnly.

On October 21, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed in a post on X that the purchase had taken place.

Blockchain records from Arkham Intelligence showed that $25 million in USDC USDC $1.00 was sent to a wallet owned by Jordan Fish, also known as "Cobie". He was one of the original hosts of the show.

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UpOnly became popular during the 2021 crypto boom. The podcast featured conversations with major names in the crypto industry and was once sponsored by the now-defunct exchange FTX. The last episode aired in December 2022 after FTX shut down.

In May, Cobie said he no longer controlled whether the podcast would return. Instead, he said:

The power is now stored within this NFT that I just minted. When the NFT is burned, the podcast will restart.

The NFT was listed on OpenSea, but it only received a top offer of 4.7 ETH ETH $3,860.81 , about $18,500. Coinbase ended up paying much more, which made the NFT one of the most expensive ever sold.

Cobie stated that it had been years since the podcast ended. He joked about renaming the podcast and spending the money on cosmetic changes.

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