In a recent development, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has yet to decide on clarifying new cryptocurrency regulations following a special request from Coinbase, the nation’s largest crypto exchange.
In a filing on Tuesday, the Wall Street regulator stated that it had not determined its course of action regarding Coinbase’s petition for rulemaking. This comes in response to an order from Judge Cheryl Ann Krause of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who required the SEC to disclose whether it intends to deny Coinbase’s petition. The filing, made last year, sought clarification from the SEC on classifying assets as securities and regulating digitally native securities.
Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, voiced his concerns on Twitter, emphasizing that the SEC persists in falsely claiming they have not made any decisions regarding new crypto rules. He further criticized their refusal to commit to a deadline, disregarding the explicit order from the court. Meanwhile, the SEC’s recent lawsuit against Coinbase accuses the exchange of operating as an unlicensed securities exchange and prioritizing its profits over investor interests.
Chairman Gary Gensler has been at the forefront of the SEC’s extensive crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry, asserting that, except Bitcoin, all digital coins and tokens should be considered securities. Before filing the lawsuit against Coinbase, the SEC also leveled 13 civil charges against Binance, its American sister exchange Binance US, and their CEO Changpeng Zhao.
This year, the SEC intensified its regulatory efforts by targeting other prominent American digital asset exchanges like Kraken and Gemini, alleging the sale of unregistered securities. Chairman Gensler, who assumed the role in 2021, expressed his skepticism toward the cryptocurrency industry, stating that the United States does not require additional digital currencies. He remarked that the digital asset realm was constructed on a foundation of non-compliance.
As the crypto landscape faces increased scrutiny and legal action, the SEC’s ongoing deliberations over Coinbase’s rulemaking petition hold significant implications for the industry. Market participants eagerly await further clarification on how digital assets will be classified and regulated, with hopes for a more inclusive and well-defined regulatory framework. Consequently, the SEC’s decision will undoubtedly shape the future of cryptocurrencies within the United States.
Moreover, these developments underscore the urgent need for collaboration between industry participants and regulatory authorities to foster innovation while ensuring investor protection. As the crypto ecosystem evolves, balancing regulation and technological advancements remains a crucial challenge for regulators and market players.
