Coinbase Lawsuit Dropped by SEC, Reflecting New Crypto Stance Under Trump

On Thursday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dismissed its lawsuit against Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed its lawsuit against Coinbase, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., according to a report by CC Agency. The move comes as part of a broader shift in Washington’s approach to cryptocurrencies following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and signals a potential easing of regulatory pressure on the industry.

The SEC had sued Coinbase in 2023 for allegedly offering unregistered crypto tokens for trading to the public. The lawsuit was part of a broader crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry that began under former SEC chairman Gary Gensler, who became a vocal critic of the industry.

A key point of contention was the classification of certain crypto assets as securities. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, known for her dissenting voice on crypto matters, had expressed her disagreement with the lawsuit.

“I did not support the action against Coinbase. Among other things, I was concerned that it was part of the Commission’s larger strategy to use its enforcement tool to regulate the crypto industry, which is an industry that the Commission has been assigned to regulate by statute for the past 80 years. Despite the fact that Congress has never expressly authorized the Commission to register any new industry, we have done so in the past and can do so again,” said Peirce.

Coinbase had previously expressed confidence in the SEC dropping the case. Chief legal officer Paul Grewal wrote in a blog post on February 21 that the lawsuit was a “major wrong that must be undone.” He also urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would provide “long-term certainty” to the industry and help the U.S. maintain its leadership in the crypto sector.

“Congress should create certainty in this new and vital sector of the economy. Without it, the administrative state will continue to flounder. And without U.S. leadership in this global industry, the benefits to the American people and our broader society will never fully be realized. Clarity will bring new inflows of capital into the U.S., update our financial system so consumers pay lower fees, and help create economic freedom for all,” said Grewal.

The cryptocurrency industry has been anticipating a more favorable regulatory environment following Trump’s reelection victory in 2024. Since his inauguration on 20th January, the SEC has taken several steps that suggest a shift in stance.

Earlier this month, the SEC announced the formation of a "crypto task force" to coordinate the agency’s actions in response to the rapid technological advancements in the digital asset industry.

Furthermore, a federal judge in Washington paused the SEC’s lawsuit against Binance after a joint request from both parties. The judge agreed to stay the case for 60 days to allow for the establishment of the new task force and the administrative processing of the case.

These developments are unfolding ahead of the confirmation of Trump’s nominee to lead the SEC, Paul Atkins. A report by the New York Times mentions that Atkins’s consulting firm, Monument Circle Advisors, counts several clients within the cryptocurrency industry.input:

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed its lawsuit against Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., according to CC Agency. The move comes as part of a broader shift in Washington’s approach to cryptocurrencies.

The SEC sued Coinbase in 2023 for allegedly allowing users to trade crypto tokens that were classified as unregistered securities. The lawsuit was part of a broader crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry. It comes as former SEC chairman Gary Gensler, who became a prominent critic of the industry, stepped down from his role.

A key issue in the case was the classification of certain crypto assets as securities. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, known for her dissenting voice on crypto matters, expressed her opposition to the lawsuit.

“I did not support the action against Coinbase. Among other things, I was concerned that it was part of the Commission’s larger strategy to use its enforcement tool to regulate the crypto industry, which is an industry that the Commission has been assigned by statute to regulate for the past 80 years. Despite the fact that Congress has never expressly authorized the Commission to register a new industry, we have done so in the past and can do so again,” said Peirce.

Coinbase had anticipated the SEC’s decision to drop the case. Chief legal officer Paul Grewal stated in a blog post on February 21 that this would “right a major wrong.” He urged lawmakers to enact legislation that would provide “long-term certainty” to the industry.

“Congress should create certainty in this new and vital sector of the economy. Without it, the administrative state will continue to flounder. And without U.S. leadership in this global industry, the benefits to the American people and our broader society will never fully be reached. Clarity will bring new inflows of capital into the U.S., update our financial system so consumers pay lower fees, and help create economic freedom for all,”