Bloomberg senior litigation analyst Elliott Stein shared insights on the ongoing legal battle between Coinbase and the SEC. Stein initially expressed confidence in Coinbase’s ability to challenge certain SEC allegations but had doubts about the exchange’s staking rewards program and operational structure. However, after a five-hour hearing, Stein’s perspective shifted, believing Coinbase could win the case entirely.
The SEC accuses Coinbase of offering and selling investment contracts by allowing customers to earn rewards through staking, which falls under SEC regulations. Additionally, the SEC claims Coinbase operates as an unlicensed exchange, which Coinbase vehemently denies, citing the lack of a straightforward registration process for crypto exchanges.
A key moment in the hearing was when Coinbase presented a more definitive description of an investment contract compared to the SEC, emphasizing the necessity of investing in a business and a viable obligation. Stein found Coinbase’s definition more compelling, focusing on investment in an enterprise rather than just an ecosystem.
Stein also referenced Ripple’s partial victory in a July 2023 lawsuit against the SEC, where the judge ruled that individual sales of XRP on exchanges did not classify it as a security. This precedent could have a domino effect on Coinbase’s case, challenging the SEC’s application of the Howey test to crypto asset sales on public exchanges.
On June 6, 2023, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Coinbase, alleging the crypto exchange violated federal securities laws. The SEC contends that 13 listed crypto assets, including Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA), are considered securities.