Coinbase Warned By SEC of Potential Securities Charges

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued crypto exchange Coinbase a Wells notice, warning the company that it identified potential violations of U.S. securities law. Based on discussions with the Staff, the Company believes these potential enforcement actions would relate to aspects of the Company’s spot market, staking service Coinbase Earn, Coinbase Prime and Coinbase Wallet, Coinbase said in a regulatory filing. “The potential civil action may seek injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties.”

Coinbase described the investigation as “cursory,” and said the Wells notice provided relatively little information about potential violations. “Although we don’t take this development lightly, we are very confident in the way we run our business — the same business we presented to the SEC in order for us to become a public company in 2021,” Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal said in a blog post. The company said that until the resolution of any legal processes, the exchange’s offerings would continue to operate as usual.