Coinbase Sues SEC and FDIC Over Crypto Transparency

By: Eliza Bennet

Coinbase has taken a bold step in its ongoing struggle with financial regulators. As reported by multiple sources, the company has filed lawsuits against both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in a Washington, DC district court. The lawsuits seek access to internal documents related to crypto regulation, aiming to bring transparency to a sector mired in regulatory complexities.

The legal action stems from Coinbase's attempts to obtain information through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. These requests pertained to SEC investigations into crypto firms and entrepreneurs between 2018 and 2024, including a probe into the Ethereum blockchain network. Additionally, Coinbase sought details about "pause letters" reportedly sent by the FDIC to banks, asking them to halt crypto-related activities pending further guidance.

Coinbase argues that both agencies denied access to the requested information despite the company's legal entitlement under FOIA. The exchange contends that this denial prevents it from understanding what it perceives as coordinated efforts by financial regulators to restrict crypto firms' access to essential banking services.

A Coinbase spokesperson emphasized the company's demand for transparency from the federal government, stating: "For years, financial regulators, including the SEC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve Board, have used every tool at their disposal to try to cripple the digital asset industry. We demand transparency from our federal government."

This legal move occurs against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Coinbase and the SEC. The regulator filed charges against Coinbase in 2023, alleging the company operated as an unregistered securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency. Coinbase has consistently maintained that the SEC has failed to provide clear guidance on how securities laws apply to digital assets.

Coinbase's lawsuits spotlight the ongoing tension between innovation in the digital asset space and regulatory oversight. The outcome of these legal proceedings could have significant implications for the future of crypto regulation in the United States, potentially shaping the relationship between the industry and financial regulators.