Coinbase joins the rush to Chinese AI models as Western labs face a pricing stress test

Coinbase has integrated Chinese artificial intelligence models, such as GLM and Kimi, into its internal routing system to handle automated tasks. By distributing requests across a wider range of global models, the company has reduced its AI operational costs by half while significantly increasing its cache hit rate. This shift demonstrates a growing corporate interest in leveraging cost-effective international alternatives to bypass the high pricing structures of dominant Western AI providers.