Coinbase Considers Relisting XRP if Ripple Wins SEC Lawsuit

Updated: 19 March 2023

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Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, has discussed the possibility of XRP being relisted on the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S. if Ripple wins its legal battle with the SEC.

The outcome of the case, which alleges that Ripple engaged in an unregistered securities offering and that XRP is a security, could have significant implications for regulatory clarity in the crypto industry. They removed XRP from Coinbase in January 2021 following the SEC’s lawsuit. If Ripple is successful, it could pave the way for XRP’s return to the platform.

Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Discusses Potential Relisting of XRP After SEC Lawsuit Outcome

Following the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020, XRP was delisted from most cryptocurrency exchanges, including Coinbase. Coinbase cited its Digital Assets Framework policy, which considers factors such as compliance with securities regulations, as the reason for the delisting. The move was seen as a major blow to XRP supporters then.

In a recent interview with Tony Edward on the Thinking Crypto podcast, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, acknowledged the frustration felt by XRP fans over the delisting. When asked whether Coinbase plans to relist XRP after the outcome of the SEC v. Ripple lawsuit, Grewal stated it would depend on several factors, including the grounds of the ruling, the judge’s legal reasoning, and Coinbase’s assessment of the likelihood of the decision being upheld by higher courts.

The Chief Legal Officer acknowledged that the outcome of the court ruling would heavily influence Coinbase’s actions regarding XRP. As a publicly listed company, they must approach this matter cautiously and carefully, consider any matter that could be subject to federal court litigation.

Although this may not be the most satisfactory response, the CLO reassured XRP holders that Coinbase would promptly commence the review process once a ruling is made. They are eager to see the outcome of the court ruling and will take action accordingly. In summary, once the ruling is made. Coinbase will start its evaluation process to determine whether it needs to reconsider its listing decision.

Coinbase CLO Praises Ripple’s Legal Team in Ongoing SEC Lawsuit

Coinbase had requested permission from a federal court to support Ripple’s case against the SEC. In a recent interview, Paul Grewal, the CLO of Coinbase, praised Ripple’s legal team for their exceptional work. Grewal acknowledged the defendants’ efforts in raising pertinent questions about the SEC’s theory and stated that these efforts prompted Coinbase to file an amicus brief in the ongoing suit.

Like most individuals in the cryptocurrency community, Grewal eagerly awaits the case’s outcome and believes that the judge will rule in Ripple’s favor. Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, revealed that despite meeting with the SEC several times to seek regulatory clarity, the commission never showed that XRP was considered a security. Therefore, he felt betrayed when the SEC sued Ripple.

Garlinghouse called on the SEC to follow the lead of crypto-friendly countries such as Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, the U.K., and the United Arab Emirates, which have developed progressive cryptocurrency regulations that promote innovation.

Garlinghouse stated Ripple would only consider settling with the SEC if the agency clarified that XRP did not fall under the security category. However, he acknowledged that the SEC Chairman, Gary Gensler, has expressed his belief that most cryptocurrencies are securities, which leaves little room for a settlement agreement.