Key facts
- Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal is stepping down after six years.
- Molly Abraham will assume the role of general counsel.
- Ryan VanGrack has been appointed as the company's first vice chair and head of corporate affairs.
- Grewal led Coinbase's legal defense against the SEC and industry advocacy for favorable policies.
- The SEC lawsuit against Coinbase was dismissed after Donald Trump retook office.
- Grewal will continue working with the Board of Coinbase National Trust Company in an advisory capacity.
Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal is departing the cryptocurrency exchange after six years, with his transition to an advisory role effective July 31. Molly Abraham, previously vice president of legal, will take over as general counsel, and Ryan VanGrack, also a vice president of legal, has been named the company's first vice chair and head of corporate affairs. Grewal's tenure was marked by significant legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2023, which alleged Coinbase facilitated the trading of unregistered securities. The SEC dropped the suit after Donald Trump retook office. Grewal was also a leading advocate for the crypto industry's efforts to shape policy in Washington, aiming to establish a clear legal framework for digital assets. In a statement, Grewal described leading Coinbase's legal team through the industry's biggest fight as his greatest achievement, stating that their legal wins helped ensure crypto's future in the U.S. He will continue as an adviser to Coinbase and work on its trust charter. Abraham has been at Coinbase since March 2021, and VanGrack, a former general counsel at Citadel Securities, will take on a broader corporate and public-facing role. Coinbase aims to evolve into an 'everything exchange,' diversifying beyond cryptocurrency into areas such as stock trading, prediction markets, and AI-powered investment tools.