Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal departs, leadership changes announced

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal is leaving the company following its lengthy legal battle with U.S. regulators. He will join a startup, as announced by Coinbase. Molly Abraham will take over as general counsel, while Ryan Van Grack will assume the role of vice chairman, expected to be more public-facing. Grewal stated that leading the legal team through significant industry challenges was his greatest achievement during his six-year tenure. He will remain an adviser to Coinbase and continue work on its trust charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Abraham joined Coinbase in March 2021, previously serving as general counsel at an electric flying car startup. Van Grack, formerly general counsel at Citadel Securities, led Coinbase's litigation efforts. Coinbase's major legal challenge came from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which sued the company in 2023 for operating as an unregistered broker and exchange. The SEC dropped the suit after President Donald Trump retook office.