Coinbase Wants to Own 'BUIDL' Trademark, Filing Reveals

A filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reveals that crypto exchange Coinbase wants to own the term "BUIDL."

AccessTimeIconDec 6, 2018 at 2:55 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 13, 2021 at 8:39 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Exchange giant Coinbase is seeking a trademark for "BUIDL," a popular term used by some segments of the cryptocurrency community, public records show.

According to an Oct. 2 filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the San Francisco–based tech unicorn wants "BUIDL" to become one of the company's protected brand names.

"BUIDL, not HODL," a rallying cry in the blockchain developer community first noted on CoinDesk in 2015, is meant to suggest that building real-world use cases is just as valuable as the hoarding of crypto assets.

According to the USPTO website, the application will be assigned to an examining attorney about three months after the filing date. A request for comment from Coinbase was not returned as of press time.

"HODL," the much more popular crypto-related misspelling, has also been submitted to the USPTO for trademark protection – but by another company. An application this year from Flashratings, Inc. appears to have been suspended late last month.

(Hat tip: Jameson Lopp)

Coinbase image via Shutterstock

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.