Coinbase legal chief Paul Grewal to step down ahead of Senate vote

Grewal, who steered the company through its high-profile legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission, announced the transition on social media. While he exits the daily management of the legal department, he will maintain his position on the Board of the Coinbase National Trust Company. Molly Abraham will ascend to the role of general counsel, with Ryan VanGrack appointed as vice chair to support the firm’s ongoing legislative agenda.

The timing of the reshuffle aligns with renewed momentum on Capitol Hill regarding the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. Coinbase leadership has aggressively lobbied for the bill, which seeks to shift primary regulatory oversight of crypto markets from the SEC to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This legislative push follows the dismissal of the SEC’s 2023 lawsuit against the exchange—a victory that solidified the company’s influence in Washington.

Under Grewal’s tenure, the exchange significantly increased its political footprint, becoming a primary donor to the Fairshake political action committee. CEO Brian Armstrong has continued to press for a comprehensive legal framework, including direct policy discussions with President Donald Trump. As Congress prepares to return from its current work period, Abraham assumes control of a legal team already deeply embedded in the fight to reshape how digital assets are governed in the United States.