October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

SEC Drops Coinbase Lawsuit: What the Dismissal Does—and Doesn’t—Mean

The SEC dismissed its Coinbase lawsuit in February 2025 as part of a stated shift in crypto policy. The dismissal ended the case but did not decide the claims’ merits.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Yes. The SEC’s civil lawsuit against Coinbase was dismissed in February 2025, but the record does not establish that President Trump personally ordered or negotiated the decision. The SEC said it dismissed the case to support a change in its crypto-regulation approach—not because it had reassessed the merits of its claims. The dismissal ended this case; it was not a court ruling that Coinbase’s conduct was lawful or that crypto tokens are categorically not securities.

What happened in the Coinbase case?

The SEC sued Coinbase, Inc. and Coinbase Global, Inc. in a civil enforcement action. On February 21, 2025, Coinbase said SEC staff had agreed in principle to recommend dismissal, subject to approval by the Commission. That was a preliminary staff agreement, not yet the completed dismissal. Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal called it “a great day for Coinbase and for crypto.” The Wall Street Journal reported Coinbase’s announcement that day.

The SEC announced on February 27 that it had filed a joint stipulation to dismiss the action. The joint stipulation, filed as Document 176, is dated February 27 in the court record; Coinbase’s later SEC filing describes the joint stipulation as occurring on February 28 and confirms that the case was concluded. The announcement date and the date attributed to the stipulation in Coinbase’s filing are therefore distinct references in the record. The SEC’s February 27 announcement, Coinbase’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

What did the dismissal legally do?

The joint stipulation dismissed with prejudice the complaint’s allegations concerning conduct through the filing date, with neither party responsible for the other’s costs or fees. Coinbase’s later filing states that the action was concluded. The joint stipulation to dismiss.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
TANGEM Crypto Wallet Pack of 2 – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet
  • Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
  • Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
  • Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
  • Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
  • Trusted by 6 million users worldwide - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets

“With prejudice” means the dismissed claims cannot simply be brought again as the same claims based on the conduct covered by the stipulation. It does not turn the dismissal into a judge’s finding that the SEC’s legal theory was wrong. The parties stipulated to ending the action; the SEC expressly said the decision was not based on an assessment of the claims’ merits.

Why did the SEC say it dropped the case?

The SEC said dismissal would facilitate its efforts to reform its regulatory approach to crypto and develop policy through its Crypto Task Force. Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda said the Commission’s views on crypto had largely been expressed through enforcement actions without engaging the general public, and that it was time to develop policy more transparently. The SEC’s announcement said the decision rested on its judgment about that policy effort, “not on any assessment of the merits of the claims alleged in the action.”

Rank #2
Sale
TANGEM Crypto Wallet Pack of 3 – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet
  • Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
  • Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
  • Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
  • Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
  • Trusted by 6 million users worldwide (4.9 App Store, 4.8 Google Play) - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets

The Commission also cautioned that the dismissal did not necessarily reflect its position in other cases. It is therefore evidence of the outcome in this Coinbase action and of the SEC’s stated policy rationale—not a blanket declaration about every crypto asset, exchange, or enforcement matter.

Was the dismissal “thanks to POTUS Trump”?

That causal claim is not established by the official sources cited here. The SEC attributed its decision to its policy shift and the work of the Crypto Task Force; those sources do not say that President Trump personally ordered or negotiated the dismissal. Political context may inform how readers interpret the timing, but it should not be confused with the agency’s stated explanation or presented as a documented personal intervention.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
KeepKey Hardware Wallet for Crypto & Bitcoin Security
  • No accounts
  • No tracking
  • Keys stay on device
  • Confirm transactions on device screen
  • Open-source firmware / interoperability

What did critics say?

SEC Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw criticized the dismissal. In her February 27, 2025 statement, she said the court had found that the SEC adequately pleaded securities-law violations. Her statement expressly represented her own views, not necessarily those of the SEC or its staff; it is a commissioner’s dissent, not the Commission’s explanation for dismissing the case. Crenshaw’s statement, “Crypto 2.0: Regulatory Whiplash”.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What should Coinbase users and crypto investors take from it?

For Coinbase users, the dismissal means this particular SEC lawsuit is concluded. It does not, by itself, change a customer’s account terms or determine the legal status of every asset traded on the platform. For investors, it is a regulatory development, not a ruling on Coinbase’s underlying conduct and not a guarantee about future SEC policy or enforcement. The SEC’s own announcement specifically limited what could be inferred about other cases.

Best Value
Sale
ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 Air-Gapped Crypto Wallet – Cold Wallet for Bitcoin, ETH, SOL, XRP, NFT & 10,000+ Coins and Tokens – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet
  • 100% Offline Crypto Wallet with Air-Gapped Tech: The ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 features fully air-gapped technology, making it a 100% offline crypto wallet that is completely isolated from the internet. With absolutely no WiFi, no Bluetooth, and no network cables, it ensures your private keys always remain safe and sound. You can create and recover your accounts entirely offline, signing transactions securely via simple QR code scans. Since this ultra-secure cold wallet never connects to any network, your cryptocurrency will never suffer from any network-level cyberattacks.
  • Clear Signing Transparency with Your Hardware Wallet: Take absolute control of your funds with a massive 4-inch Touchscreen. The ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 lays out every single transaction in plain, readable words: exactly who you are paying, how much you are sending, and what smart contracts you are authorizing. It double-checks every detail between your phone and the crypto hardware wallet before anything is signed. This completely eliminates blind signing, giving you absolute peace of mind with your trusted hardware wallet.
  • Multi-Asset Crypto Cold Wallet: Manage all your portfolio effortlessly within a single crypto cold wallet. Pair the Titan 2.0 with the intuitive ELLIPAL App to buy, sell, swap, send, and earn rewards across 45+ coins and more than 10,000 tokens all on one platform. It is a seamless and convenient crypto wallet for your digital asset management.
  • 8 Years of Zero Breaches & Trusted Secure Crypto Wallet: Invest in a highly recommended, secure crypto wallet backed by an unblemished 8-year track record of zero security breaches. Proudly Forbes Recommended and trusted by over 1 million users across more than 140 countries, this robust cold storage wallet provides enterprise-grade physical and digital security, ensuring your life savings are perfectly protected against evolving Web3 threats and physical tampering.
  • Up to 5 Accounts in One Cold Storage Hardware Wallet: Maximize your storage efficiency with a versatile cold storage hardware wallet that supports up to 5 completely separate accounts on a single device. You can perfectly isolate and organize your daily spending, long-term savings, active trading, and even family funds without the need for multiple devices. It is the ultimate companion for your long-term crypto journey.
Rank #4
Trezor Safe 3 Crypto Hardware Wallet with Secure Element
  • Unparalleled Security: Protect your assets with EAL 6+ Secure Element, offering robust defense and complete transparency
  • Simple & Secure Interface: Manage your digital assets easily with a clear OLED screen for secure on-device confirmations
  • Supports 1000s of Coins & Tokens: Securely handle thousands of assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more, all in one wallet
  • Effortless Asset Management: Monitor and transact seamlessly with Trezor Suite, our intuitive desktop and mobile app
  • Enhanced Backup Solution: Multi-share Backup eliminates single points of failure for secure cold wallet recovery

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.