Breaking: SEC Sues Coinbase After Binance, Lists 13 Crypto Tokens As Security

Key Takeaways:

• The SEC continued its war against crypto with a lawsuit against Coinbase.
• COIN price wipes out June gains.

NEW DELHI (CoinChapter.com) — In another blow to the crypto markets, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase Global Inc. in Southern New York District Court.

The latest attack comes barely 24 hours after the regulatory watchdog sued Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by volume.

SEC alleged that Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the US, has made “crypto asset securities” available to over 108 million customers without registering with the regulatory body.

The SEC alleged that crypto tokens SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, SAND, AXS, CHZ, FLOW, ICP, NEAR, VGX, DASH, and NEXO are securities. Moreover, the SEC claimed that the Coinbase platform combined the functions of brokers, exchanges, and clearing agencies.

“Yet, Coinbase has never registered with the SEC as a broker, national securities exchange, or clearing agency, thus evading the disclosure regime that Congress has established for our securities markets.“

The SEC said in its statement.

The regulator noted that Coinbase has operated as an unregistered broker. The allegations state that the exchange solicited investors, handled customer funds and assets, and charged transaction fees.

Additionally, the SEC claimed that Coinbase functioned as an unregistered exchange by providing a market for executing orders of buyers and sellers. Lastly, the securities watchdog noted that Coinbase also functioned as a clearing agency.

Also Read: BNB Price Prediction: Bears Are Just Getting Started or Another Buying Opportunity?

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 separated the functions of a broker, an exchange, and a clearing house. The SEC alleged that the exchange collapsed the three separate functions on one platform without registration.

Hence, the regulator claimed that Coinbase’s operations defied its regulatory structure and “evaded disclosure requirements.”

Coinbase Prioritized Profits Over Investor Interest: SEC

The SEC invoked the Howey test in the Coinbase lawsuit, stating that the exchange understood the application of the test for “determining whether a crypto asset is part of an investment contract.”

Furthermore, the regulator alleged that Coinbase only pretended to analyze crypto assets using the Howey test.

“But while paying lip service to its desire to comply with applicable laws, Coinbase has for years made available for trading crypto assets that are investment contracts under the Howey test.”

The SEC alleged

Therefore, Coinbase was more interested in profits than investor interests, the SEC stated in its lawsuit. Additionally, the SEC claimed that Coinbase’s staking program also flouted its rules. The regulator noted that the exchange failed to file a registration statement with the SEC for its staking program.

The SEC seeks to “disgorge” the exchange’s “ill-gotten gains” and demands that the exchange pay pre-judgment interest. Moreover, the regulator has asked the court to impose monetary penalties on Coinbase.

COIN Price Might Plummet 30%

Meanwhile, COIN price plunged 13% to a daily low of $55.8 on June 5. The exchange’s shares had taken a hit following news of the Binance lawsuit. Moreover, a Barrons report speculated that regulatory action against the exchange could drop COIN prices by nearly 30%.

On June 6, COIN started trading at $45.5, dropping nearly 20% from June 5’s close of $58.7. News of the the lawsuit against the exchange resulted in Coinbase share price dropping 5.1% pre-market. Afterward, COIN price rallied nearly 10% to reach a daily high near $51 on June 6.

However, should the rally falter, COIN price might drop to its support near $47.5. Failure of the immediate support level could result in Coinbase share price falling to $42, erasing nearly all of its 2023 gains.

Conversely, if the rally continues, COIN price might flip immediate resistance near $52.7. Breaking and consolidating above the immediate resistance level might help Coinbase shares price rise to $57.5 before retreating.

The RSI for COIN remained neutral, with a value of 37.9 on the daily charts.