The cryptocurrency community eagerly awaits the SEC v. Coinbase hearing on January 17, where the court will address Coinbase’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. Legal analyst, James Murphy, who popularly goes by the name ‘MetaLawMan‘ on social media platform X, shares insights into possible outcomes shaping this pivotal moment for Coinbase.
Option 1: Denial of Coinbase Motion
If the judge denies Coinbase’s motion, the SEC’s low bar for plausibility would be met, leading to a continuation of the case into a lengthy discovery phase, similar to the situation with Ripple.
Option 2: Granting Coinbase’s Motion “with Prejudice”
A favorable outcome for Coinbase would see the judge dismissing the entire case. However, this would likely prompt the SEC to appeal at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Option 3: Granting Motion “Without Prejudice”
This scenario would allow the SEC a chance to amend its complaint to address cited deficiencies. Yet, if the court questions the SEC’s authority to regulate crypto exchanges, an amendment might be futile.
Option 4: Partial Granting of Motion
The judge could grant the motion for certain claims related to specific crypto tokens while denying it for others, splitting the case into distinct focuses, such as the staking service.
Further Insights
Murphy acknowledges that although an immediate ruling isn’t expected after the hearing, chances are that the judge might provide hints through her questioning. He plans to be in court for insights and will share his views on the likely outcome afterwards.
With regards to the urgency of the case, with significant implications, MetaLawMan predicts a potential swift ruling from Judge Failla, possibly within three months.
In the previous Court hearing from the SEC vs Coinbase legal showdown, the SEC had denied Coinbase’s petition for specific rules on crypto. The denial prompted Coinbase’s legal intervention, seeking clarity for the cryptocurrency industry.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler defended the decision, emphasizing existing regulations. Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, expressed the company’s intent to challenge the denial in court, highlighting the industry’s perceived lack of clarity.
As the crypto industry watches closely, the hearing’s outcome will significantly impact Coinbase’s as well as the whole of the crypto industry’s legal trajectory.
