TLDR
- Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal is leaving the company on July 31 to join a startup
- Molly Abraham will take over as general counsel; Ryan Van Grack becomes vice chairman
- Grewal led Coinbase’s legal team through the SEC’s 2023 lawsuit, which was later dropped
- Coinbase is pushing Congress to pass the CLARITY Act, which would shift crypto oversight from the SEC to the CFTC
- Grewal will stay on as an adviser and continue work on Coinbase’s trust charter with the OCC
Paul Grewal has announced he is leaving Coinbase on July 31 after six years as the company’s Chief Legal Officer. He said he is moving to a startup, though he has not revealed which one yet.
After 6 years I’m leaving @Coinbase. I’ll be transitioning to an advisory role at the end of the month and continue my service on the Board of Coinbase National Trust Company. I will be a Coinbase ally for life and am grateful to @brian_armstrong, @emilemc and the Coinbase board…
— Paul Grewal (@iampaulgrewal) July 9, 2026
Grewal will stay connected to Coinbase as an adviser. He will also continue work with the Board of Coinbase National Trust Company and on the company’s trust charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Leadership Changes at Coinbase
Two internal executives will step into new roles following Grewal’s exit. Molly Abraham, who has been at Coinbase since March 2021, will become general counsel. Ryan Van Grack, a former general counsel at Citadel Securities, will become vice chairman.
Abraham previously served as the company’s vice president of legal. Before Coinbase, she was general counsel at an electric flying car startup.
Van Grack had led Coinbase’s litigation work during his time at the company. His new role is expected to be broader and more public-facing.
Grewal called his time at Coinbase “the single greatest achievement” of his six-year tenure. He said the legal wins helped secure a future for crypto in the United States.
The SEC Battle That Defined His Tenure
The biggest case Grewal oversaw was the SEC’s 2023 lawsuit against Coinbase. The SEC alleged the exchange was operating as an unregistered broker, clearinghouse, and exchange for securities.
The suit was filed under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Similar suits were brought against other crypto exchanges at the time.
The SEC dropped the case after President Donald Trump returned to office. The outcome was seen as a win for Coinbase and the broader crypto industry.
Coinbase also went to court to access internal SEC documents about its approach to regulating crypto. The company also petitioned the SEC to create formal crypto rules during Grewal’s time there.
Coinbase Pushes for CLARITY Act
Coinbase executives, including CEO Brian Armstrong, have been lobbying Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the CLARITY Act. The bill would largely move oversight of digital assets from the SEC to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Armstrong has met with President Trump and has advocated for crypto legislation directly in Congress. Coinbase is also one of the top contributors to the Fairshake PAC, which supports politicians seen as pro-crypto.
The US Senate returns from a state work period on Monday. Lawmakers could take up a vote on the CLARITY Act at that time.
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