Coinbase slapped with class-action lawsuit

by

As a researcher with extensive experience in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, I find the ongoing legal challenges faced by Coinbase and its CEO Brian Armstrong to be both intriguing and concerning. The company’s latest class-action lawsuit, filed by plaintiffs from California and Florida, alleges that Coinbase has violated state securities laws since its inception by selling digital assets that should be classified as securities.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and CEO Brian Armstrong, face a new class-action lawsuit.

As a researcher, I can share that a collection of plaintiffs hailing from California and Florida have initiated legal action against various defendants in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, specifically in its San Francisco Division.

Gerardo Aceves, Thomas Fan, Edwin Martinez, Tiffany Smoot, Edouard Cordi, and Brett Maggard are the accusers who claim that Coinbase has broken securities laws unknowingly while selling digital assets since its beginning. (Or: Since Coinbase’s inception, Gerardo Aceves, Thomas Fan, Edwin Martinez, Tiffany Smoot, Edouard Cordi, and Brett Maggard assert that the company has been in violation of state securities laws during its digital asset sales.)

The lawsuit alleges that the cryptocurrencies, including Solana (SOL), Polygon (MATIC), Near Protocol (NEAR), Decentraland (MANA), Algorand (ALGO), Uniswap (UNI), Tezos (XTZ), and Stellar Lumens (XLM), which were traded on Coinbase, may be deemed securities based on their characteristics.

Based on the plaintiffs’ argument, Coinbase acknowledges the role of “Securities Broker” in its user terms. This implies that transactions involving digital assets on the platform might be classified as investment contracts or other securities.

The lawsuit also contends that Coinbase’s Prime brokerage functions as a securities broker.

As an analyst, I would put it this way: I represent the plaintiffs who are pursuing the complete cancellation of these transactions, along with damages according to state legislation and a court order preventing similar actions in the future. This case shares characteristics with another class-action complaint accusing Coinbase of selling securities that resulted in consumer injury.

As a researcher examining the regulatory landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges, I’ve come across Coinbase’s stance on secondary sales of crypto assets. Despite SEC’s classification of some digital assets as securities, Coinbase contends that these transactions don’t fit the definition of securities trading. They argue that the complexities and nuances of the crypto market differ significantly from traditional securities markets. Thus, they question whether existing securities regulations can be effectively applied in this context.

In a distinct development from Coinbase’s ongoing dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over whether tokens traded on its platform are classified as securities, the company has recently filed an interlocutory appeal following a judge’s decision permitting the SEC’s lawsuit to move forward.

Crypto.news reached out to Coinbase for comment but has not heard back.

Coinbase faces multiple lawsuits

In a related turn of events, attorney John Deaton, known for his pro-crypto stance, has joined forces with Coinbase by submitting a friend-of-the-court brief in their ongoing legal dispute with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Deaton, famous for promoting cryptocurrencies and opposing Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, is reportedly working for free on this matter.

As a researcher looking into the developments at Coinbase, I’ve noticed an interesting timeline: my subject’s involvement with the company began around the same time that Coinbase faced pushback from the SEC over allegations of non-compliance. This period also coincided with Coinbase’s public efforts to seek regulatory clarity. These events highlight the ongoing tensions between cryptocurrency companies and financial regulators as they navigate the complex and evolving landscape of digital assets.

As a securities analysis expert, I would put it this way: In June 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought charges against Coinbase for allegedly functioning as an unregistered securities exchange and broker in the national marketplace.

As a researcher examining the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent allegations against Coinbase, I can share that the SEC asserts that Coinbase traded over a dozen digital assets which, in their opinion, should have been registered as securities. Among these assets are Solana, Cardano, and Polygon tokens.

Independent lawsuits have been filed by hundreds of Coinbase clients alleging instability in the handling of the GYEN stablecoin by the company.

The legal action asserts that Coinbase advertised and dealt with the GYEN token notwithstanding knowledge of its extreme price swings, resulting in substantial financial setbacks for those who invested.

Coinbase’s cryptocurrency staking initiative has drawn regulatory attention from both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and several U.S. states. The SEC asserts that this program functions as an unregistered investment contract and security. Consequently, Coinbase is being accused by these regulatory bodies of breaching securities laws regarding its rewards program for crypto staking.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that Coinbase has taken a bold stance against the regulatory pressure. I’m proud of CEO Brian Armstrong for standing up for our industry and representing us in court. He’s advocated for more transparent and clear-cut regulations to guide our investments moving forward.

As a researcher studying the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent actions, I cannot help but raise a concern. The SEC’s moves could potentially restrict investment possibilities for American investors and lead to higher costs. Platforms might be compelled to explore less regulated markets in response to these regulations, which could result in increased fees for investors.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed the increasing friction between cryptocurrency businesses and financial regulators regarding the classification and supervision of digital assets. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been ramping up its enforcement actions against crypto companies like Coinbase, indicating that we may see more legal disputes in the future for major industry players.

Read More

2024-05-05 19:30