- Coinbase has proposed a six-point framework to address the U.S.’s crypto regulatory gaps.
- The lack of clear laws risks pushing innovation offshore and leaves consumers unprotected.
The U.S. crypto ecosystem has weakened in a net of regulatory confusion, leaving both innovators frustrated and consumers helpless. One of the major crypto platforms, Coinbase, took a big step ahead.
In a detailed blog post titled “Why Congress Must Act: Clarity for Crypto and Consumer Protections,” Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer, Faryar Shirzad, outlined a six-point plan to redefine the country’s approach to crypto regulation.
According to the plan, blockchain and digital assets are not technologies per se; they can redefine financial systems, empower individuals with increased economic opportunities, and support economic growth.
However, without specific directions, this potential is untapped. The framework asks the government to implement legislation that offers guidance to the innovators, safeguards the consumers, and promotes the blockchain economy without excessive regulation.
Building a Strong Foundation for Developers
Coinbase’s framework prioritizes the empowerment of blockchain programmers with defined rights. The liberty to code, deploy software, and operate networks without the looming threat of regulative confusion is paramount to permit programmers to build systems that empower users to manage their digital assets.
Additionally, the proposal calls for protecting consumers’ right to self-custody. Tools like hardware and software wallets should remain accessible to ensure individuals can manage their assets without reliance on centralized mediators. This approach minimizes risks associated with centralized failures, such as hacks or collapses.
The plan also advocates participation in the blockchain economy. From operating nodes to peer-to-peer payments to staking, individuals must have access to the rewards of blockchain innovation. These are the principles of a fully decentralized economy.
Clear Rules for Centralized Entities
While decentralization is the priority, Coinbase recognizes the need for strong guardrails to support central entities like crypto exchanges that hold user assets.
Transparency, responsibility, and security need to be a no-compromise standard among them. It will deliver customer trust without undermining innovation within the decentralized systems.
The framework also addresses stablecoins, a central component of the crypto landscape. To earn trust and encourage competitiveness and innovation within the market, stablecoins must be transparent, well-backed, and secure.
Another priority is differentiating various crypto assets. By clarifying the status of tokens as either a security, a commodity, or another category, Congress can deliver much-needed clarity to developers, investors, and America’s 52 million crypto owners.
Coinbase Pushes for CFTC Oversight of Crypto Spot Market
Coinbase plans to urge Congress to empower the CFTC to regulate the crypto spot market. Bitcoin and Ethereum are not securities but commodities that fall within the CFTC’s jurisdiction. If the agency is tasked with overseeing this area, it would protect the public from deception.
The proposal also recommends directing the SEC to promulgate specific rules to regulate the fundraising of blockchain ventures. This would allow developers to raise their ventures responsibly without labeling all the tokens as security.
However, the framework stresses that DeFi protocols, smart contracts, and NFTs need to remain exempt from extreme restrictions. These technologies are at the forefront of the growth of digital commerce and decentralized finance by bringing financial instruments within the reach of all individuals and enabling peer-to-peer payments.
