SEC Gathers Coinbase, Uniswap Labs, and Cumberland DRW for Insightful Crypto Roundtable Discussion

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is gearing up to host a significant gathering of cryptocurrency industry leaders this Friday, bringing together some familiar names for a discussion that promises to shed light on the evolving regulatory landscape.

The SEC’s crypto task force has extended invitations to executives from Coinbase, Uniswap Labs, and Cumberland DRW, companies that have previously crossed legal swords with the agency, signaling a potential shift toward collaboration over confrontation. This roundtable, set to take place at the SEC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, is part of an ongoing effort to refine the rules governing the rapidly growing crypto sector.

Announced on Monday, the event carries the title “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading” and will feature key figures like Katherine Minarik, chief legal officer of Uniswap Labs, Gregory Tusar, vice president of institutional product at Coinbase, and Chelsea Pizzola, associate general counsel of Cumberland DRW.

The discussion will be livestreamed on the SEC’s website, offering the public a front-row seat to what could be a pivotal moment for crypto regulation. Adding weight to the proceedings, acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda will deliver remarks alongside Commissioners Caroline Crenshaw and Hester Peirce, the latter of whom heads the crypto task force. Peirce emphasized the value of these dialogues in a statement, noting that engaging with industry voices helps the agency craft a regulatory framework that is clear, practical, and equitable.

A New Chapter in SEC-Crypto Relations

This roundtable marks an intriguing development given the SEC’s past legal tangles with some of these participants. Under former Chair Gary Gensler, the agency pursued litigation against Coinbase in June 2023, alleging securities law violations, only to dismiss the case in February following a change in administration after President Trump’s inauguration. Similarly, a lawsuit filed against Cumberland DRW in October 2024 was dropped last month, suggesting a thawing of tensions. These dismissals have paved the way for a more constructive dialogue, with the SEC now turning to these former adversaries for insights into shaping future policies.

The event builds on a series of roundtables initiated by the SEC’s crypto task force, with the first held on March 21. That earlier discussion brought together securities lawyers and crypto commentators to tackle the perennial question of what defines a security in the digital asset space. Looking ahead, the agency has scheduled additional sessions, including one on April 25 titled “Know Your Custodian: Key Considerations for Crypto Custody,” followed by talks on tokenization on May 12 and decentralized finance on June 6.