Senator Calls Coinbase A ‘Corruption Factory’ — The Exchange’s CLO Fires Back

Coinbase’s top lawyer and a US senator traded fierce public claims this week, putting the exchange at the center of a fresh political fight over campaign donations and regulation.

Allegations Of Political Payoff

According to Senator Chris Murphy, Coinbase gave $46 million to support US President Donald Trump and that the payment was tied to regulatory decisions, including the handling of an SEC lawsuit against the exchange.

Murphy said the money included a large donation for Trump’s inauguration. He framed this as an example of what he called “Trump’s corruption factory.”

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, answered quickly on X, calling the charges “misinformed” and “false.”

He told Murphy to “do your homework,” and said Coinbase has pushed for clearer rules rather than favors. Grewal argued that the problem was not with the company’s actions but with how the SEC dealt with the case.

He pointed out that Coinbase was allowed to go public and that a federal court later found the SEC’s denial of Coinbase’s rulemaking petition “arbitrary and capricious.”

Here’s an example of how Trump’s corruption factory works.

1. Coinbase put $46M into elections to help Trump allies. 2. Sends him a huge check for his inauguration. 3. Trump drops SEC lawsuit against Coinbase. 4. Trump demands big donation from Coinbase for ballroom. Done. https://t.co/kLstTHquty

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 30, 2025

Coinbase Pushes Back

Coinbase has highlighted its recent business moves while denying wrongdoing. Based on reports, the firm announced a tie-up with Citigroup to make stablecoin payments easier for clients.

What was corrupt was allowing us to go public “in the public interest” and then suing us. What was corrupt was what the Third Circuit held was an arbitrary and capricious denial of our request to to get basic rules for crypto. What was corrupt was a campaign decried by another… https://t.co/mla5emrEfI

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) October 31, 2025

It also agreed to work with Figment to expand staking services for Solana, Cardano, and Sui networks. Those partnerships were presented as proof the company is focused on growth and compliance.

Grewal said regulatory uncertainty has hurt the industry more than any single firm. He blamed the SEC’s prior approach for creating confusion, and he used the court ruling to underline that point. At the same time, he insisted the company did not seek political favors.

John Deaton, a lawyer known for representing XRP holders, joined the criticism of the SEC. He said it was inconsistent to let Coinbase list publicly and then later claim some of its services were unlawful.

Deaton accused former SEC Chair Gary Gensler of following political pressure to push an “anti-crypto agenda.” He also noted Senator Elizabeth Warren’s hardline stance toward crypto.

Deaton argued that singling out Coinbase while ignoring the earlier IPO approval suggested selective enforcement.

Industry reaction has been mixed. Supporters of the exchange say the charges are politically driven. Skeptics want clearer evidence about donations and direct influence on regulatory choices.

Public records on campaign giving and event donations were referenced by both sides during the dispute, but a clear trail linking the $46 million claim to regulatory outcomes was not provided in public comments.

This fight comes as Washington debates rules for cryptocurrencies and exchanges. Some lawmakers want tougher oversight. Others call for more predictable rules so businesses can plan.

Featured image from Shutterstock/Nadezda Murmakova, chart from TradingView