U.S. regulators sue Coinbase, joining Binance as crypto exchanges under scrutiny
Global News
Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, has been accused of operating illegally without having first registered with the regulator.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday sued Coinbase, accusing the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange of operating illegally without having first registered with the regulator.
Tuesday’s lawsuit came one day after the SEC sued Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its founder Changpeng Zhao.
Both cases are part of SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s push to assert jurisdiction over crypto and offer better protection to investors who trade virtual currencies.
“Coinbase’s alleged failures deprive investors of critical protections, including rulebooks that prevent fraud and manipulation, proper disclosure, safeguards against conflicts of interest, and routine inspection,” Gensler said in a tweet.
Coinbase did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shares of its parent Coinbase Global Inc, which is also a defendant, fell 17.1% in premarket trading.
In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, the SEC said Coinbase has since at least 2019 made billions of dollars by handling cryptocurrency transactions, while evading the disclosure requirements meant to protect investors.
The lawsuit addressed several aspects of Coinbase’s business including Coinbase Prime, which routes orders; Coinbase Wallet, which lets investors access liquidity; and the Coinbase Earn staking service.