Oregon Reinitiates SEC Legal Action Against Coinbase Concerning Securities and Staking Services

The state of Oregon has reignited regulatory proceedings by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) targeting Coinbase’s operations. The case focuses on alleged securities law violations and the platform’s staking services, marking a renewed escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of cryptocurrency exchanges by federal and state authorities. This development underscores persistent regulatory uncertainties surrounding digital asset classification and compliance frameworks in the United States.

Coinbase says Oregon is wasting taxpayer money

Paul Grewal, the Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, posted a response on X saying the entire thing is a recycled federal lawsuit. “Today the Oregon Attorney General is resurrecting the dead by bringing a copycat case of the SEC’s enforcement action against Coinbase,” Paul wrote. “As a reminder, the SEC dismissed that case with prejudice.”

Today the Oregon Attorney General is resurrecting the dead by bringing a copycat case of @SECGov’s enforcement action against Coinbase. As a reminder, the SEC dismissed that case with prejudice. This type of political jockeying is an embarrassing waste of Oregon taxpayer…

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) April 18, 2025

He said this wasn’t some coincidence. Dan’s office confirmed to them they’re continuing where Gary left off. “Seriously,” Paul wrote. “This is exactly the opposite of what Americans should be focused on right now.”

Paul slammed the lawsuit as a political stunt and said it’s not doing anything for people in Oregon. “This type of political jockeying is an embarrassing waste of Oregon taxpayer dollars,” he wrote. He also said it’s not just a legal rerun—it’s hurting national policy.

“Bipartisan momentum has never been stronger to pass comprehensive federal legislation for crypto,” Paul said. “And this backward lawsuit does nothing to protect consumers or solidify American leadership.”

He said everyone already knows the last war against crypto failed. “The war against crypto waged by the previous SEC and its allies is over—crypto won,” Paul wrote. “The SEC finally caught up with the reality that the vast majority of crypto assets are not securities—and that there is widespread public support for this revolutionary technology.”

But Paul said Dan refuses to accept that. He said Oregon is dragging up arguments that were already dismissed and have been proven wrong again and again.

“These hand-me-down arguments are years out of date and defy public opinion, technological progress, and good governance,” Paul said. “Let there be no doubt: Oregon’s lawsuit, like the SEC’s, is meritless, and Coinbase will do whatever is required to beat it.”

But he also warned that lawsuits like this come with a price. Paul said this move from Dan “directly undermines constructive policymaking happening in DC.” He pointed out that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are finally working on laws that would give clear rules for crypto. Oregon, instead of waiting for that, is trying to go rogue.

“Yet instead of waiting for Democrats and Republicans in Congress to enact clear rules of the road,” Paul wrote, “Oregon has taken it upon itself to try to regulate a worldwide industry through enforcement.”

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