Coinbase Legal Officer Calls for SEC Reform Amid Trump’s Election Win
Paul Grewal, chief legal officer at Coinbase, has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to shift its approach toward crypto regulation following Donald Trump’s recent election victory.
Grewal emphasized the need for a regulatory framework that encourages innovation and open dialogue rather than litigation—a sentiment echoed by numerous advocates in the crypto industry who criticize the SEC’s aggressive enforcement actions.
Trump’s campaign included a promise to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office, a move he claims would halt the current administration’s “anti-crypto crusade.” Under Gensler’s leadership, the SEC has initiated legal proceedings against notable crypto entities, including Coinbase and the decentralized exchange Uniswap.
This has left many in the crypto sector concerned about the lack of clear regulatory guidelines, which Grewal argues could be addressed through comprehensive rulemaking.
The potential for an SEC overhaul has spurred speculation about Gensler’s successor. Hester Peirce, an SEC commissioner known for her supportive stance on crypto, is frequently mentioned as a likely candidate.
Peirce has previously criticized the SEC’s enforcement-first strategy and advocated for regulatory clarity to better align with the interests of the public and the U.S. position in global digital finance.
In addition to these regulatory discussions, Coinbase faces scrutiny over allegations of high fees for token listings. Tron founder Justin Sun claimed that Coinbase requested $300 million to list the TRX token.
Similarly, Andre Cronje, founder of the Fantom Network, alleged that Coinbase proposed listing fees ranging from $30 million to $300 million for the FTM token, contradicting statements from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who stated that asset listings are free.
