Coinbase legal chief Paul Grewal to leave as US crypto lobbying continues

Paul Grewal, who has served as Coinbase’s chief legal officer since 2020, announced he will step down effective 31 July 2026 and move into an advisory role. He will remain on the board of Coinbase National Trust Company and continue to advise the firm. Vice‑president of legal Molly Abraham will assume the title of general counsel and secretary, while fellow vice‑president Ryan VanGrack will become the company’s first vice chair and head of corporate affairs.

Grewal led Coinbase through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 2023 enforcement action, which was dismissed in 2025 under the Trump administration, removing a major regulatory threat. He also spearheaded the firm’s lobbying for the GENIUS Act and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, legislation intended to shift digital‑asset oversight from the SEC to the CFTC. Coinbase’s legal team is expected to continue advocating for the pending CLARITY bill as the Senate reconvenes.

In a related development reported in Germany, Grayscale’s chief financial officer Edward McGee also resigned after seven years, with interim successors named. Both departures occur as the crypto industry consolidates its regulatory gains.