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Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal is stepping down after six years leading the exchange’s legal team through major U.S. regulatory battles, including its lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
He will remain an adviser to Coinbase and continue serving on the board of Coinbase National Trust Company.
Abraham Will Take Over Legal Leadership
Molly Abraham, Coinbase’s vice president of legal, will succeed Grewal as general counsel. Coinbase is also appointing legal executive Ryan VanGrack as its first vice chair and head of corporate affairs.
VanGrack will work closely with Coinbase Chief Executive Brian Armstrong and represent the company before policymakers, government officials and external partners. His new role combines policy engagement with broader corporate affairs responsibilities.
Grewal Led Coinbase Through SEC Lawsuit
Grewal joined Coinbase in 2020 after working as a legal executive at Meta and serving as a U.S. magistrate judge in California. His tenure covered Coinbase’s 2021 public listing and its confrontation with U.S. securities regulators.
The SEC sued Coinbase in June 2023, alleging that the company operated as an unregistered securities exchange, broker and clearing agency and offered an unregistered staking service.
Coinbase denied the claims and argued that the SEC had not provided a workable registration framework for crypto platforms. The case was later dismissed after the SEC moved to drop it, removing one of Coinbase’s largest U.S. regulatory cases.
Legal Transition Comes During Rule Talks
Grewal also helped lead Coinbase’s push for federal crypto market structure legislation, including the CLARITY Act.
The leadership change comes as Coinbase continues to press lawmakers for clearer rules dividing oversight of digital assets between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The exchange has become one of the crypto industry’s most active policy participants through lobbying, public advocacy and support for groups backing digital asset legislation.
Abraham and VanGrack Inherit Policy Agenda
Abraham will oversee Coinbase’s legal operations as the company expands beyond spot crypto trading into more regulated products and services.
VanGrack will lead corporate affairs and external engagement as Coinbase continues working with policymakers in the U.S. and other markets.
Grewal will retain a connection to Coinbase through his advisory role and his seat on the board of Coinbase National Trust Company.
