In the realm of crypto exchanges, friction with regulatory bodies isn’t unusual. However, the recent clash between Coinbase and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) underscores an issue prevalent in the industry – the hunger for clear regulatory guidelines.
Coinbase, a top-tier crypto exchange, accused the SEC of dodging their rulemaking petition in a letter filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals on June 17. The petition, a formal call-to-action for the SEC, requests the creation of a lucid regulatory framework for digital assets.
The crypto exchange didn’t mince words. The letter highlights the SEC’s “stark inconsistency” in actions and litigating positions, accusing them of repetitively sidestepping the question. The SEC, when ordered by the court to respond, requested an additional 120 days. Coinbase suggests this reluctance to disclose decision updates is a cause for concern. The delays, coupled with enforcement actions, is a burden on the crypto industry that, in the eyes of Coinbase, SEC Chair Gary Gensler is doing little to alleviate.
Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, expressed concerns about the government’s defiance of a federal court’s direct question. He proposes a writ of mandamus—a court order that mandates a government official to fulfill their duties according to the law. Coinbase also argues that a shorter deadline of 60 days or less, counting from the SEC’s request on June 13, would be more appropriate.
In a parallel development, the SEC initiated a lawsuit against Coinbase on June 6. The regulator alleges that the platform has violated several securities rules, primarily by offering cryptocurrencies that the SEC categorizes as unregistered securities.
The clash between Coinbase and the SEC is a captivating case in point of the tension between crypto exchanges and regulatory bodies. As we anticipate the outcome, one thing remains clear: the need for transparent, detailed, and practical regulatory guidelines in the dynamic world of digital assets is more pressing than ever.