Big news dropping in the crypto space today! Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong just confirmed via X that Coinbase is teaming up with R[3]sidency, a fresh accelerator program in the UK aimed at nurturing the next wave of crypto companies. This move could be a game-changer for aspiring builders in web3, especially those eyeing meme tokens and decentralized fun on chains like Base.

For those not in the loop, R[3]sidency—check out their site here—isn't your average startup bootcamp. It's a selective 16-week program kicking off in January, capped at just eight teams. They're dishing out £230K in investment per team, plus hands-on mentorship from industry heavyweights, access to top VCs, over $100K in perks and credits, and a swanky Demo Day in London to pitch to investors. The focus? Building venture-scale companies in web3, AI, and frontier tech that could become the next decacorns (that's unicorns on steroids, folks—think $10B+ valuations).

What makes this partnership exciting is the powerhouse lineup behind it. Alongside Coinbase, you've got Fabric Ventures (backers of hits like Polkadot and Kraken), Founders Factory (with a massive portfolio of 450+ companies), Animoca Brands (investors in everything from Pudgy Penguins to OpenSea), and others like Base, AriseHealth, and OE. If you're into meme tokens, note that Animoca's got a finger in the NFT and gaming pie, which often overlaps with viral meme projects. Plus, Coinbase's own layer-2 network, Base, is a hotbed for meme coin launches— this collab could open doors for UK-based creators to scale their ideas without leaving home.

Brian Armstrong highlighted Coinbase's own roots in Y Combinator, saying accelerators like this are key for going from zero to one. In his post, he emphasized supporting the next gen of crypto firms. Coinbase echoed the sentiment in their announcement, calling for builders to apply and even sharing a hype video to rally the troops.

This comes at a pivotal time for the UK's crypto scene, which is pushing to become a global hub for blockchain innovation. With regulatory clarity improving and talent pooling in London, programs like R[3]sidency could help UK startups compete with Silicon Valley giants. For meme token enthusiasts, imagine getting funded to turn your viral idea into a sustainable protocol—perhaps the next big thing on Base.

If you're a founder obsessed with solving big problems in crypto, AI, or deep tech, and you're ready to ship fast in London, applications are open until November 22. Head over to r3sidency.xyz to apply. Who knows? This could be the launchpad for the next meme token empire.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on how this partnership might shake up the meme token landscape. What do you think—will we see more UK-born memes taking over? Drop your thoughts below!