Coinbase Wants Access To Private Emails As Fight Against SEC Continues

Coinbase has filed a motion against the United States Securities Exchange Commission, compelling the regulator to provide access to private emails linked to Gary Gensler amid their ongoing legal dispute.

Clarity Is Key

The move follows Coinbase recently communicating to Judge Katherine Polk Failla, indicating their intention to narrow the scope of their document request concerning the regulator after encountering resistance.

Initially seeking private communications by Gensler dating back to his tenure as SEC Chair, Coinbase now focuses specifically on documents related to any and all communications during when Gensler first started as Chair in 2021. The motion specifies a subpoena request pertaining to Gensler and his speeches about digital asset regulatory status and exchanges.

Crucial Significance

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, emphasized that these documents are crucial for their defense against allegations by the SEC regarding unauthorized trading of unregistered securities on their platform. The motion asserts that the SEC refusing to search beyond its Enforcement Division is unjustified, citing issues of relevance, burden, and privilege.

Coinbase is also seeking information about SEC staff conversations with other market participants and documents related to their 2021 public offering, which underwent a six-month SEC review. The motion underscores that the SEC did not conclude Coinbase was operating as an unregistered exchange, broker, or clearing agency nor identified tokens listed on their platform as securities.