The mobile phone icon for the Coinbase app is shown in this photo, in New York, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Securities and Exchange Commission is charging Coinbase with operating its crypto asset trading platform as an unregistered national securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
By Michelle Chapman
Coinbase has been targeted by U.S. regulators in a new lawsuit Tuesday that alleges the cryptocurrency platform is operating as an unregistered securities platform and brokerage service.
The lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission comes only a day after it filed charges against Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, and its founder Changpeng Zhao are accused of misusing investor funds, operating as an unregistered exchange and violating a slew of U.S. securities laws.
Coinbase shares plunged nearly 15% early Tuesday.
In its complaint, the SEC said Coinbase made billions acting as the middle man for cryptocurrency buyers and sellers but did not give investors lawful protections while acting as a broker.
“Coinbase has for years defied the regulatory structures and evaded the disclosure requirements that Congress and the SEC have constructed for the protection of the national securities markets and investors,” the SEC said in its complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest, penalties, and other equitable relief.
Coinbase said the SEC has not been transparent in how it regulates cryptocurrencies.
“The SEC’s reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting America’s economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance," said Paul Grewal, chief legal officer and general counsel for Coinbase, said in a written statement. The solution is legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently and applied equally, not litigation. In the meantime, we’ll continue to operate our business as usual.”
The SEC had warned Coinbase in March that it could face securities charges and had long signaled that Coinbase had been flouting securities laws with its position that cryptocurrencies were not securities and therefore did not need to register as a broker.
“You simply can’t ignore the rules because you don’t like them or because you’d prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great,” said Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, in a prepared statement.
U.S. employers added 390,000 jobs in May, extending a streak of solid hiring that has bolstered an economy under pressure from high inflation and rising interest rates.
The White House is earmarking $2.1 billion to help secure the nation's food supply, amid widespread shortages due to the pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine, and rising inflation. The Biden administration's plans are expected to shore up food infrastructure and distribution while also aiding farmers. Bread for the World Senior International Policy Advisor Abiola Afolayan joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Concerns about economic growth are weighing down sentiment on Wall Street, as investors also monitor the uncertain impact of the Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening - the process of reducing its $9 trillion balance sheet it built up over the course of the pandemic. The Fed's QT is meant to normalize monetary policy while bringing down inflation, something the White House calls a 'top economic priority.' As Americans cope with higher prices for everyday essentials, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admitted that she was wrong about inflation being 'transitory,' as extenuating factors have caused inflation from the pandemic to worsen. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon also weighed in on inflation and the state of the economy, warning investors to brace for a so-called economic 'hurricane' due to impacts from inflation and Russia's war in Ukraine. The still-tight job market is putting pressure on the economy as well, as the latest JOLTS report shows job openings in the U.S. are down from record highs but remain high.
President Biden and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell meet at the White House today for the first time since Powell's renomination to the position. The President and the Fed Chair discussed the economy and historically high inflation, as new data shows inflation may be cooling slightly. Morning Consult economic analyst Jesse Wheeler joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss how the Biden administration at the U.S. central bank can work together to combat soaring prices for American consumers.
Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he breaks down the reasons behind Thursday's bounce-back performance on Wall Street. Goldman also provides a dose of investing advice, highlighting the sectors he's favoring right now.
David Scranton, CEO and Founder of Sound Income Strategies, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he provides his insight into why markets ended Wednesday's session lower and hones in on what he's looking for when it comes to the Fed combating inflation.
ADP's Chief Economist Nela Richardson joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell for a look at the job market in the United States. She breaks down the numbers behind her firm's latest findings and says her biggest concern lies in the continuing loss of jobs at small businesses, which shed 91,000 jobs during the month of May.
Tech-enabled residential hospitality company Mint House recently raised $35 million in a Series B round led by Mohari Hospitality. Mint House was described by one of its backers as 'the best of a hotel without the worst of a hotel, and the best of an Airbnb without the worst of an Airbnb.' Mint House offers apartment-style lodging across the country. The company claims its spaces combine the comfort of a home with the luxury of a hotel in order to give guests all of the perks and none of the tradeoffs. Will Lucas, Founder and CEO of Mint House, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
