Paul Grewal Predicts Overhaul of the U.S. SEC’s Crypto Stance Under Trump’s Regime

Paul Grewal, Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, expects to see a significant shift in the creation and enforcement of crypto regulations under Trump's regime.

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal anticipates a substantial shift in the creation and enforcement of crypto regulations under the Trump administration. He maintains that the government should recognize the public's demand for clarity and innovation in the digital assets realm, allowing the industry to evolve in sync with its users' needs and enthusiasm.

According to Grewal, the 52 million Americans who own digital assets made their voices heard during the recent elections. He highlights the crypto community's desire for the issue to remain nonpartisan, urging both Democrats and Republicans to collaborate in establishing sensible regulations that ensure fair treatment of the crypto space under the law.

Grewal foresees a change in the U.S. SEC's approach to crypto cases

"That's what the 52M Americans who've owned a digital asset want," $COIN Chief Legal Officer @iampaulgrewal.

"They want to see this issue remain nonpartisan, they want to see Democrats and Republicans step up and pass sensible rules on market structure and stablecoins…to make… https://t.co/qbur7Du8DU pic.twitter.com/eAwSLET0QQ

— Julia Krieger 🛡️ (@jnkrieger) November 5, 2024

The Coinbase CLO predicts a massive change in the U.S. SEC's crypto caseload with the appointment of a new Trump-selected chair. He anticipates that the new administration will reassess the existing crypto cases handled by Gary Gensler, distinguishing between fraudulent and non-fraudulent activities. As reported by Eleanor Terrett of Fox Business, Grewal refrained from explicitly stating that he believes the cases against crypto firms, including Coinbase, for securities violations will be dropped.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has urged the next U.S. SEC chair to withdraw all frivolous cases and issue an apology to the American people. He adds that while an apology may not fully rectify the situation, it can initiate the process of restoring trust in the SEC as a regulatory body.

Grewal expressed confidence that a change in leadership and clear regulations would pave the way for a "fresh pair of eyes." He maintains that it's time to shift the focus from suing crypto to discussing crypto. "There's no reason to wait," he adds. The Coinbase CLO highlights the rapid evolution of the crypto space, which demands a collaborative approach that fosters understanding and growth. He concludes by emphasizing that working together can create a future that fully realizes crypto's potential.

“I hope @SECGov understands what has happened…the voters said loud and clear that they want change. Crypto is no exception.”

–Paul Grewal

Trump's pledge to shake up crypto regulations by firing U.S. SEC Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office signaled his plans to push for pro-crypto policies. Among the candidates rumored to potentially replace Gensler was Hester Pierce, a crypto-friendly U.S. SEC Commissioner.

Coinbase to begin lobbying for policy changes in its own backyard

In other news related to policy shifts in the crypto industry, Coinbase faced scrutiny over allegations of charging high token listing fees. Both Justin Sun and Andre Cronje confirmed that Coinbase had requested millions of dollars in fees for token listings.

TRON's Sun alleged that Coinbase requested over $300 million to list the TRX token. As part of the request, Coinbase asked for 500 million TRX, valued at around $80 million at the time, and an additional $250 million worth of Bitcoin to be placed in Coinbase's custody.

Cronje also claimed that Coinbase proposed listing fees ranging from $30 million to $300 million for the FTM token.

In response to these allegations, Coinbase CEO Armstrong maintained that token listings on Coinbase were free as long as the tokens met a certain threshold.

However, Moonrock Capital CEO Simon Dedic expressed skepticism toward Armstrong's claims, having encountered a similar issue with Binance.