Coinbase Faces Unprecedented Global Scrutiny as Government Data Requests Surge

The latest transparency report from Coinbase, covering the period from October 2024 to September 2025, reveals a significant escalation in government surveillance of cryptocurrency transactions. The data shows a 19% year-over-year increase in formal data requests, bringing the total to 12,716 filings. This marks a pivotal shift in the regulatory landscape, as, for the first time, international agencies have submitted the majority of inquiries, accounting for 53% of all requests. This milestone underscores the growing global coordination among law enforcement and regulatory bodies in monitoring digital asset flows. Notably, France has emerged as the most assertive jurisdiction, with its requests skyrocketing by an astonishing 111%. This surge far outpaces increases seen in other major European nations, such as Spain (27%) and the United Kingdom. The report highlights the intensifying focus from European regulators following the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which has empowered authorities with clearer mandates for oversight. The data suggests that governments worldwide are rapidly building their capacity to track cryptocurrency transactions, moving beyond domestic concerns to a more interconnected, global enforcement strategy. This trend presents both challenges and opportunities for centralized exchanges like Coinbase, which must navigate an increasingly complex web of international compliance requirements while maintaining user trust through transparency.

France Leads 111% Surge in Coinbase Data Requests as Global Scrutiny Intensifies

Coinbase's latest transparency report reveals a 19% annual increase in government data requests, totaling 12,716 filings between October 2024 and September 2025. For the first time, international agencies account for 53% of all inquiries—a watershed moment in global crypto surveillance.

France emerges as the most aggressive jurisdiction with a 111% spike in requests, outpacing Spain's 27% rise and the UK's 16% growth. The US remains the single largest requester, followed by Germany and Britain. Meanwhile, South Korea's inquiries plummeted 67%, while Moldova's surged 5.7-fold—highlighting stark regional disparities in enforcement priorities.

This tectonic shift coincides with Coinbase's expanding international footprint. The exchange now fields requests from 150+ jurisdictions, with Australia, Brazil and Nordic countries showing particularly volatile demand patterns. Regulatory attention appears to be migrating from retail oversight to institutional monitoring as digital assets gain mainstream traction.

Coinbase’s x402 Protocol Integrates Identity Verification for Stablecoin Commerce

Coinbase’s x402 protocol now enables compliant stablecoin payments for age-restricted goods and AI-driven transactions through Concordium’s identity verification. The upgrade allows USDC and other stablecoins to FLOW through standard HTTP requests while embedding regulatory checks—bypassing traditional payment rails.

The integration marks a strategic pivot toward AI-commerce infrastructure. Developers can now programmatically verify user age or identity during transactions, unlocking new use cases for decentralized finance in regulated markets.

Originally launched in 2025, x402 leverages the obscure HTTP 402 "Payment Required" status code to facilitate web-native crypto payments. This update positions it as a bridge between blockchain’s permissionless ethos and real-world compliance demands.