The largest US cryptocurrency exchange, Coinbase, has filed a request with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit demanding that it officially recognize that cryptocurrency transactions do not fall under the definition of securities.
The move was made as part of an ongoing standoff with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which accuses Coinbase of violating securities laws. Coinbase claims that cryptocurrency transactions on its platform are simple transactions for the purchase and sale of digital assets between users, with no subsequent obligations between the parties. The exchange emphasizes that this does not meet the characteristics of investment contracts that are regulated by the SEC.
Coinbase's appeal is related to an ambiguous legal position on the issue of cryptocurrencies, which creates confusion in the market and complicates compliance with regulatory requirements. A court ruling in this case could set an important precedent for the entire cryptocurrency industry.