SEC and Coinbase Reach Settlement in Lawsuit from Gensler Era

Odaily Odaily reports that the U.S. SEC and Coinbase reached a settlement on Wednesday, ending a multi-year legal dispute over the handling of record requests during the Gensler era.

According to court filings, the SEC agreed to pay $150,000 in legal fees to History Associates and release two documents that had been previously withheld. Additionally, the SEC will review its record management procedures, as well as the retention methods for communications such as text messages.

The case originated from Coinbase suing the SEC and FDIC separately in 2024 through the consulting firm History Associates, accusing both regulatory agencies of failing to comply with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Coinbase stated that these record requests were related to whether regulators were attempting to cut off the crypto industry's connection with the banking system.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal stated that former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler had launched a “litigation campaign” against the crypto industry. During Gensler's tenure, the SEC sued Coinbase and several other crypto companies, alleging they failed to comply with federal securities registration requirements.

Grewal noted that the settlement has long-term implications, as the FDIC and SEC are rewriting disclosure and record-keeping practices, which could enhance regulatory transparency and limit the ability of regulators to overreach behind closed doors in the future.