SEC is like soccer referees in a game of pickleball

March 23, 2023 Alex Rustok

Brian Armstrong, the co-founder and CEO of crypto exchange Coinbase, has compared the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to “soccer refs” in a game of pickleball, criticizing U.S. regulators for not being able to “agree on the rules” of “this new game.”

The comments came after Armstrong revealed that his firm had been issued a Wells notice on March 22, which he said: “typically precedes an enforcement action.“

The Coinbase CEO has been critical of U.S. regulators’ seeming lack of clarity around crypto regulation. There has also been an ongoing debate on who should be the primary body regulating crypto.

Asked to explain the most recent development “in NFL terms,” Armstrong quipped:

“Imagine you’ve got both football and soccer refs on the field, but we’re actually playing pickleball (fastest growing new sport in America). The refs can’t really agree on the rules of this new game, and one of them decides to change a call they made back in April 2021.”

The reference to a “call they made back in April 2021” refers to the SEC’s approval of Coinbase’s application to go public. Armstrong argued that its filings “clearly explained” its asset listing process and “included 57 references to staking.”

In a separate tweet, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal claimed the SEC provided “no clear rule book” on crypto regulations and that “efforts to engage with the SEC are met with silence or enforcement actions.“

Both executives appear to welcome the chance to use the “legal process” to provide the crypto industry with regulatory clarity.

“We are proud to stand up for our customers and the industry in these moments,” said Armstrong.

“Going forward, the legal process will provide an open and public forum before an unbiased body where we will be able to make clear for all to see that the SEC simply has not been fair, reasonable, or even demonstrated a seriousness of purpose when it comes to its engagement on digital assets.”

While other firms like Kraken reached a settlement with the SEC that required it to stop offering staking services to U.S. customers, Armstrong has repeatedly asserted that Coinbase’s staking services are not securities and that the firm would be happy to defend this position in court if required.

Related: Cathie Wood’s ARK sells Coinbase stock for the first time in 2023

The crypto community has widely condemned the recent notice, with many agreeing that the SEC has reversed its earlier position regarding Coinbase.

Many have also thrown their support behind Coinbase, seeming to agree that Coinbase would be fighting on behalf of the entire U.S. crypto industry as an unclear regulatory environment drives activity offshore.

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