Regulation
Coinbase Subpoena for SEC Chair Gensler

Coinbase Vs. SEC Lawsuit: Coinbase has reduced the scope of the subpoena served to SEC Chair Gary Gensler and is only seeking documents from when he was chair. This move comes after a New York judge questioned the breadth of the initial subpoena that was issued.
Coinbase Refines Subpoena for SEC Chair Gensler
Coinbase, a crypto exchange, has changed its legal approach in the ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company has narrowed down the subpoena concerning SEC Chair Gary Gensler to ask for documents from his tenure at the SEC only. This came after a New York judge worried over the breadth of the initial demand that covered messages from 2017 up to the present.
New minute entry in SEC v. Coinbase: Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Katherine Polk Failla: Pre-Motion Conference held on 7/11/2024. Attorneys Jorge Gerardo Tenreiro, Nicholas Margida, Patrick…
[full entry below 👇]
Docket: https://t.co/xzF4ofOHTw#CL67478179 pic.twitter.com/YO1WTtAhzO
— Big Cases Bot (@big_cases) July 15, 2024
The original subpoena was delivered in June and sought communications concerning Gensler’s prior comments on cryptocurrency prior to his becoming SEC chair in 2021.
However, in a recent court filing, Coinbase has opted to narrow down its demand to only Gensler’s time as the SEC Chair. This change was conveyed by the company’s lawyer in a scheduling order filed on Monday.
Judge’s Concerns Prompt Changes
U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla had some concerns about the scope of Coinbase’s first subpoena. Speaking during a pre-trial motion conference on July 11 th, she stated that she was not persuaded by Coinbase’s arguments especially those concerning Gensler’s private conversations on cryptocurrencies.
Judge Failla suggested that Coinbase should concentrate on facts related to Gensler’s function as SEC chair, which led to the change of strategy.
The lawyer representing Coinbase stated that they would be filing a motion to compel the SEC to provide the requested documents with an opening brief set for July 23. The SEC has fought the subpoena and called it an overreaching intrusion into Gensler’s private life.
SEC’s Recent Regulatory Stances
The ongoing court battle between Coinbase and the SEC is just a part of the broader fight for regulation in the crypto market. The SEC’s complaint against Coinbase is that the exchange functioned as an unregistered broker and dealer as well as an unregistered clearing agency. Coinbase’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit was denied in March, although one of the claims related to the company’s Wallet application was dismissed.
At the same time, Elizabeth Goody became the SEC’s lawyer in that case against Coinbase. This addition happens at the same time when the SEC finishes investigations into a number of crypto companies, including Consensys, Paxos, and Hiro and does not demand enforcement actions. These changes have also led to different speculations in the cryptocurrency market concerning the current position of the SEC on Crypto.
Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, has stated that the recent actions by the SEC may indicate that the regulator is open for dialogue with the crypto industry. According to Coingape, Grewal stated that the SEC may very well be prepared to come to the table with the industry and work with it, as opposed to striking against it through enforcement actions.
Read Also: Tether and Bitfinex Dragged In Amended Class Action Lawsuit
The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
USDC Issuer Circle Set To File IPO In April, Here’s All

USDC issuer Circle is reportedly set to file its initial public offering (IPO) in April as part of the firm’s plans to finally go public. The stablecoin issuer is allegedly already working with top financial institutions to achieve this move.
Circle To File IPO In Late April
According to a Fortune report, Circle is looking to file its IPO in late April, although the listing period remains uncertain. The report noted that when a company files to go public, its shares usually begin trading four weeks later, indicating that the listing could occur in May. However, there is also a scenario where the IPO process could drag on for months.
The stablecoin issuer is reportedly working with investment banks JPMorgan Chase and Citi to achieve its long-anticipated IPO. The firm had previously tried to go public in 2021 under a SPAC arrangement with a shell company.
The US SEC failed to sign off on this arrangement back then, and the company eventually scrapped these IPO plans by the end of 2022 when the crypto exchange FTX collapsed and the broader crypto market experienced a downturn.
Revelation about Circle’s IPO plans comes just days after the stablecoin issuer partnered with NYSE’s parent company to explore USDC’s use in traditional finance (TradFi). Meanwhile, the USDC stablecoin recently launched in Japan following approval from the country’s regulator. Notably, USDC is the first and only global dollar stablecoin approved under Japan’s stablecoin framework.
An Easier Path Now For The Stablecoin Issuer
Circle will likely face less resistance for its IPO plans under the current SEC administration. Under acting Chair Mark Uyeda, the Commission has shown its willingness to work hand in hand with crypto firms, which was missing under Gary Gensler’s administration.
US SEC Chair nominee Paul Atkins has also shown his willingness to change the approach that Gensler’s administration adopted towards crypto firms. During his nomination hearing, the SEC Chair nominee promised to prioritize providing regulatory clarity for the industry.
Circle’s IPO listing would be the biggest since the top crypto exchange Coinbase went public in 2021. Interestingly, Coinbase owns an equity stake in the crypto firm.
The firm’s USDC is currently the second-largest stablecoin by market cap, only behind Tether’s USDT. The stablecoin industry is heating up as more financial institutions look to develop their own stablecoin.
Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial recently revealed plans to launch its USD1 stablecoin, while asset manager Fidelity is also considering doing so.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
Japan Set To Classify Cryptocurrencies As Financial Products, Here’s All

Cryptocurrency investors in Japan are bracing for impact following a plan to reclassify digital assets as financial products. While the plan has elicited excitement from cryptocurrency enthusiasts in the Far East, the ambitious plan will have to scale several legislative hurdles.
Japan Targets Reclassification Of Cryptocurrencies As Financial Products
According to a report by Nikkei, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is inching toward classifying cryptocurrencies as financial products. Per the report, the FSA intends to achieve the reclassification via an amendment to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
Currently, digital assets in Japan are considered crypto assets conferred with property rights and seen as payment means. Under the FSA’s plans, cryptocurrencies in Japan will be treated as financial products in the same manner as traditional financial products.
The FSA says it will adopt a slow and steady approach toward the reclassification, carrying out “a private expert study group” to test the waters. If everything goes according to plan, the FSA will submit the amended bill to Parliament in early 2026.
The classification of cryptocurrencies as financial products will have far-reaching consequences for the local ecosystem. Experts say treating cryptocurrencies as financial products will bring Japan closer to a crypto ETF launch amid a changing regulatory landscape.
Furthermore, the move may lower current cryptocurrency taxation for local investors since existing capital market rules will apply to the asset class.
A Fresh Bill For Crypto Insider Trading Is Underway
Apart from the reclassification, the FSA disclosed plans for new legislation against insider trading. The move flows treating cryptocurrencies as financial products and will strengthen existing investor protection rules.
“It is a direction to establish a new insider trading regulation that prohibits trading based on unpublished internal information,” said the FSA. “We will develop laws to prevent unfair transactions.”
However, Japan’s cryptocurrency scene is heating up to a boil, driven by local and international players. Last week, stablecoin issuer Circle secured approval from the FSA for USDC with top exchanges set to list the stablecoin.
Japan’s Metaplanet has tapped Eric Trump to join its Strategic Board of Advisors as it continues to load up Bitcoin.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
Kentucky Governor Signs Off On ‘Bitcoin Rights’ Bill, Strengthening Crypto Protections


In what is being dubbed a major development in the crypto regulation space, the Governor of the US state of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, has signed the ‘Bitcoin Rights’ bill into law. The law promises to safeguard protections for Bitcoin (BTC) users.
Bitcoin Rights Bill Comes Into Effect
Crypto regulations continue to evolve under pro-crypto US President Donald Trump’s administration. In the latest development, Kentucky has become the newest state to enshrine protections for digital asset users.
In an X post published on March 24, crypto advocacy group Satoshi Action Fund announced that Governor Beshear had signed the much-anticipated Bitcoin Rights bill into law. The post stated:
The right to self-custody, run a node, and use of digital assets is now protected for millions of Americans without fear of discrimination.
The bill was first introduced to the Kentucky House by Rep. Adam Bowling on February 19. According to the bill’s description, it seeks to safeguard users’ rights to use digital assets and self-custody wallets. Additionally, it aims to prohibit local zoning changes that discriminate against crypto mining operations.
The legislation outlines guidelines for running a digital asset node and excludes digital asset mining from money transmitter license requirements. It also clarifies that crypto mining or staking is not considered an offer or sale of securities.
On February 28, the bill passed Kentucky’s House of Representatives with a unanimous vote of all 91 representatives in favor. It later passed the Kentucky Senate on March 13, receiving backing from all 37 senators.
Kentucky’s proactive stance toward cryptocurrencies isn’t new. Earlier this year, the state became the 16th US state to introduce legislation seeking to create a Bitcoin strategic reserve.
Meanwhile, neighboring state Arizona is also joining the crypto movement. A recent X post by Bitcoin Laws revealed that Arizona’s House Rules Committee has passed two Bitcoin reserve bills — SB1373 and SB1025. These bills will now head to a full floor vote.
Renewed Optimism Under Trump Administration
Following Trump’s victory in the November presidential election, cryptocurrency regulations in the US are evolving rapidly, with many states introducing legislation aimed at strengthening their digital asset ecosystems and attracting crypto businesses.
Positive changes in crypto regulations are encouraging industry businesses to expand. For instance, leading crypto trading platform Coinbase recently announced plans to hire 1,000 employees in the US.
The Trump administration has also witnessed several lawsuits being dropped against major crypto entities, including Kraken, Coinbase, Gemini, and others. At press time, Bitcoin trades at $87,399, down 0.2% in the past 24 hours.

Featured Image from Unsplash.com, chart from TradingView.com

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