Coinbase CLO Uncovers SEC Stonewalling Antics

As an experienced analyst, I believe Paul Grewal’s accusations against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) carry significant weight. The ongoing legal battle between Coinbase and the regulatory body has taken a contentious turn with the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) alleging that the SEC is employing delaying tactics to prevent the release of crucial documents.


Paul Grewal, the Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, has claimed that the SEC is using stalling techniques to prevent Coinbase from obtaining necessary documents for their ongoing legal dispute with the commission.

Grewal’s allegations against SEC

In a recent article on X, Grewal implied that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may feel apprehensive about losing regulatory battles to Coinbase, following losses in the Chevron case. However, according to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, it is the courts, not the SEC, that possess the authority to interpret laws governing the crypto industry.

Based on Grewal’s statement, it appears that the SEC has been taking actions to obstruct the release of documents beneficial to Coinbase in their ongoing legal dispute. Grewal explicitly mentioned, “And now, on a late Friday, more roadblocks from the US SEC to hinder Coinbase from obtaining documents from Gary Gensler in our lawsuit.”

In spite of the reported delaying tactics, the Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase, Grewal, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to resolving this matter in court. He highlighted the significance of these documents for their case and is optimistic that the court will honor their petition.

As a crypto investor following the developments in the legal landscape of our industry, I’d be happy to share that Grewal recently posted a link to the filed motion and related pleadings in the ongoing Coinbase vs. SEC litigation. For those who are interested in keeping up-to-date with this significant case, this resource provides valuable insights into the arguments being made by both parties.

Historical context and relevance of Gensler’s statements

Based on Grewal’s report from March 2021, Gary Gensler, as chairman of the SEC, testified before Congress that the Securities and Exchange Commission lacked jurisdiction over digital asset trading platforms.

During that time and on numerous other occasions, Gensler expressed agreement with the widespread belief among market players that trades on these exchanges fell outside the purview of securities regulations. According to Grewal’s assertions, Gensler made this position clear not only in public statements but also in private communications with market participants, all while holding the position of SEC chair.

Back in March 2021, during a testimony before Congress, Gary Gensler, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), acknowledged that the regulatory body did not hold jurisdiction over digital asset trading platforms. This statement aligned with the perspective of market participants who believed that deals struck on these exchanges were not subject to securities laws.

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) June 29, 2024

As an analyst, I would put it this way: Coinbase has asked the SEC, represented by Gensler, for certain documents concerning our previous communications. Our legal team is of the opinion that a thorough examination of these documents will reveal that the SEC’s enforcement actions infringe upon constitutional due process rights.

However, the SEC and Gensler have resisted these requests, aiming to keep the documents concealed.

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2024-06-29 15:56