Key Insights:

• Coinbase faces indictment by SEC for operating as an unregistered securities exchange and broker.
• SEC accuses Coinbase of depriving investors of critical protections and classifies its staking service as unregistered securities.
• Binance, like Coinbase, is sued by the SEC for alleged violations, causing turmoil in the crypto market.

Coinbase Global Inc, a prominent crypto trading platform based in the United States, has again drawn the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) attention. This time, the company faces heightened scrutiny as a New York Federal Court issues an indictment against Coinbase. The indictment alleges that Coinbase has been operating as an unregistered national securities exchange and broker, adding further weight to the legal challenges the company currently faces.

New Allegations and Lingering Regulatory Shadows

The legal complaint contends that Coinbase has been engaged in these illicit activities since the commencement of its cryptocurrency transactions in 2019, at the very minimum. The lawsuit specifically highlights Coinbase Prime and Coinbase Wallets as significant offerings that the company allegedly utilized to attract potential investors.

Expressing his apprehension on Twitter, Gary Gensler, the Chair of the SEC, raised significant concerns. He specifically targeted the self-custody Coinbase Wallet, condemning its capability to provide investors with liquidity beyond the confines of the Coinbase platform. Gensler emphasized that bypassing undermines vital safeguards such as fraud prevention, transparent disclosure, conflict of interest protections, and regular inspection, putting investors at risk.

Moreover, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) categorizes Coinbase’s staking service as an investment agreement and unregistered financial instrument. This classification closely resembles the allegations brought against Kraken, a different digital currency exchange, earlier in the current year.

Coinbase and the SEC’s Ongoing Clash

Coinbase and the SEC have had a turbulent past, marked by frequent disputes, primarily revolving around the ever-changing landscape of crypto regulations. Among these conflicts was a notable incident where the SEC served Coinbase with a Wells Notice a couple of months ago. The notice raised concerns that the American exchange could violate securities laws in the United States.

In light of the situation, Coinbase reaffirmed its stance, emphasizing that all its listed assets do not fall under the category of securities. Paul Grewal, the chief legal officer of Coinbase, expressed their readiness to embrace a legal process that would offer the long-awaited clarity they have been advocating for. Nevertheless, despite Coinbase’s position, the SEC remains resolute, and the filing of this new lawsuit has only bolstered its standpoint.

A Wider Net: Binance Suffers Same Fate

Coinbase finds itself in the company of others grappling with legal hurdles as the SEC aims to Binance, a prominent provider of digital asset services. Binance is confronted with allegations from the SEC regarding violating US securities regulations, including mishandling customer funds, deceptive practices towards investors and regulators, and a failure to adhere to Know-Your-Customer rules. Similarly to Coinbase, Binance has voiced its discontent with the SEC’s ambiguous stance on cryptocurrency regulation.

The legal disputes have significantly impacted the cryptocurrency market, resulting in a sharp decline in the value of various digital assets. The announcement of the Binance-SEC lawsuit triggered a 9% drop in Coinbase shares, and the recent lawsuit targeting Coinbase has exacerbated the situation, leading to a further 13% decline in the company’s stock.