A curable, water-based coating composition comprising a reaction product of: a copolymer comprising a free-radical polymerization product of: a first block comprising a reaction product of: a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer, wherein at least one monomer of the plurality of ethylenically unsaturated monomers includes a functional group that can react with a water-dispersible cross-linking agent, and at least one monomer of the plurality of ethylenically unsaturated monomers is present in an amount such that it can render the copolymer water dispersible, and a second block comprising a reaction product of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein at least a portion of which are non-functional, and a water-dispersible cross-linking agent, wherein the water-based copolymer is free of salt structures.