Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal to Step Down as CLARITY Act Debate Nears

TLDR

• Paul Grewal will step down as Coinbase chief legal officer on July 31.
• Grewal will enter a three-month advisory role after leaving the post.
• Molly Abraham is expected to become Coinbase general counsel.
• Ryan VanGrack is expected to become Coinbase vice chairman.
• Grewal’s exit comes as Congress prepares to revisit the CLARITY Act.

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal will leave his role on July 31 after nearly six years leading the exchange’s legal strategy through its public listing, SEC lawsuit and Washington policy push.

Grewal Leaves After SEC Fight and Public Listing

Coinbase said Grewal filed an SEC 8-K on July 8 notifying the company of his plan to step down. He will enter a three-month advisory agreement and remain on the board of Coinbase National Trust Company.

Grewal joined Coinbase in mid-2020 to lead legal, compliance and government relations. His tenure included Coinbase’s April 2021 public listing and the company’s legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which sued the exchange in 2023 for allegedly operating as an unregistered exchange, broker and clearing agency.

The SEC case was later dismissed under the Trump administration. Grewal pointed to that outcome in his post on X, saying,

“After helping to take the company public, fighting the SEC and winning, moving us from Delaware to Texas, working to get GENIUS and soon CLARITY passed into law, and so much more – now is my time for new adventures.”

Grewal said he would share his next role “in due course,” without giving further details. His exit comes as Coinbase continues to press lawmakers for clearer digital asset rules.

Molly Abraham and Ryan VanGrack Take New Roles

Coinbase Legal Vice President Molly Abraham is expected to become general counsel and lead the company’s legal department. Abraham joined Coinbase in March 2021 and worked with Grewal during the exchange’s major legal disputes.

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Grewal said Abraham has been “in the trenches with me on our most important legal battles for 5+ years.” He added, “Molly is a warrior and ready to lead.”

Ryan VanGrack, another Coinbase legal vice president, is expected to take on the role of vice chairman. Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad will continue leading the company’s global policy team.

The transition keeps Coinbase’s legal and policy strategy in the hands of executives who worked through the SEC case and the company’s regulatory outreach. Bloomberg has reported that crypto firms have expanded policy operations as Congress considers market structure rules for digital assets.

Coinbase Transition Comes Before CLARITY Act Talks Resume

Grewal’s departure comes days before the Senate is expected to return from its state work period. Lawmakers could resume work on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the CLARITY Act.

Coinbase executives, including CEO Brian Armstrong, have repeatedly urged Congress to pass the bill. The proposal would shift much of the oversight of digital asset markets from the SEC to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Coinbase has also increased political advocacy through support for Fairshake, a political action committee backing candidates seen as favorable to digital asset policy. Armstrong has met with President Donald Trump and has continued calling for clearer crypto rules.

Grewal will leave the CLO post before the next phase of the CLARITY Act debate, but Coinbase’s legal team will remain active in policy and regulatory work under Abraham, VanGrack and Shirzad.