Jun 28, 2024 12:25
Today (Thursday), Coinbase filed lawsuits against the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit InsuranceCorporation (FDIC). According to a report from FoxBusiness, the lawsuits claimthat both agencies failed to fulfill Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requestssubmitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Alleging Regulatory Opacity
The lawsuits from Coinbase allege that the SEC and FDICneglected to provide requested information under the FOIA, impactingtransparency in regulatory dealings. Coinbase accuses the federal agencies ofactions perceived as attempting to marginalize the cryptocurrency industrywithin the banking sector.
BREAKING: COINBASE IS SUING THE SEC, ALLEGING REGULATORS ARE TRYING TO CRIPPLE THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY. pic.twitter.com/bD1B1Vny1r
Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine)
June 27, 2024Specifically, Coinbase's FOIA requests to the SEC aimed toobtain information concerning the agency's stance on Ethereum, particularly itstransition to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism with Ethereum 2.0.
Additionally, Coinbase sought records related to prior investigations involvingindividuals such as Zachary Coburn and Enigma MPC, facilitated through itsconsultant firm, History Associates Inc.
Lawsuit Advances despite Partial Dismissal
Earlier, afederal judge in Manhattan permitted the SEC to continue its lawsuitagainst Coinbase, as reported by FinanceMagnates. While dismissing one claim, the ruling sets the stage for aprotracted legal battle. US District Judge Katherine Failla partially grantedCoinbase's motion to dismiss the SEC's allegations of securities lawviolations.
The decision underscores ongoing regulatory challenges facedby digital asset firms. Despite a partial victory for Coinbase, the rulingaligns with the SEC's crypto regulation stance. Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer,Paul Grewal, affirmed readiness to contest SEC claims, expressing confidence inlegal arguments.
The lawsuit, initiated in June last year, accuses Coinbase offacilitating unregistered securities trading and operating unlawfully as asecurities exchange.
Judge Failla's decision permits most claims to proceed,excluding allegations of unregistered broker activity via Coinbase's walletapp. This legal clash is pivotal in the SEC's efforts to regulate the digitalasset market under traditional securities laws.
This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.