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Coinbase Files Legal Motion Against SEC Over Lost Texts From Ex-Chair Gary Gensler

Photo of Jared Kirui Jared Kirui Send an email September 13, 2025
3 15 minutes read
Coinbase Files Legal Motion Against SEC Over Lost Texts From Ex-Chair Gary Gensler

Friday, 12/09/2025 | 19:57 GMT by
Jared Kirui

  • The exchange wants the SEC to produce all relevant communications, including records tied to Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake.
  • Coinbase argued that Gensler’s private communications could be crucial to its defense.

SEC

Coinbase has filed a legal motion against the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the regulator admitted to losing
nearly a year of text messages from former Chair Gary Gensler. The move escalates the exchange’s battle with
Washington regulators as it pushes for transparency in ongoing legal disputes.

Court Motion Targets Lost SEC Records

The filing, made Thursday, asks the court to address
findings by the SEC’s Office of Inspector General, which concluded that the
agency deleted text messages from Gensler and other top officials due to
“avoidable” errors.

Coinbase argued the SEC failed to conduct a complete
search when responding to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in
2023 and 2024.

The SEC OIG report last week revealed texts from October 2022-September 2023 were destroyed. The Gensler SEC did this even though we asked for information about “all communications” within the SEC related to crypto regulatory and enforcement decision-making years ago. 2/3

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) September 11, 2025

The exchange is seeking a court order compelling the
SEC to produce all relevant communications, including records tied to
Ethereum ’s transition to proof-of-stake. Coinbase also requested an additional
hearing after discovery to consider remedies such as attorney fees and possibly
a special counsel investigation.

SEC Responds

An SEC spokesperson said transparency remains central
to the regulator’s operations. “When Chairman Atkins was briefed on this
matter, he immediately directed staff to examine and fully understand what
occurred and to take steps that will prevent it from happening again,” the
agency said.

Read more: UK Trade Groups Push for Blockchain Inclusion in Tech Deal With U.S.

The Inspector General’s report revealed that text
messages from October 2022 to September 2023 were lost before backups could be
made. That period overlapped with the SEC’s lawsuits against several crypto
companies, including its 2023 case accusing Coinbase of operating as an
unlicensed securities broker.

Coinbase has argued that Gensler’s private
communications could be critical in its defense. The new motion underscores the
growing friction between the exchange and the SEC, as disputes over missing
records now add to an already high-stakes regulatory fight.

Coinbase has filed a legal motion against the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the regulator admitted to losing
nearly a year of text messages from former Chair Gary Gensler. The move escalates the exchange’s battle with
Washington regulators as it pushes for transparency in ongoing legal disputes.

Court Motion Targets Lost SEC Records

The filing, made Thursday, asks the court to address
findings by the SEC’s Office of Inspector General, which concluded that the
agency deleted text messages from Gensler and other top officials due to
“avoidable” errors.

Coinbase argued the SEC failed to conduct a complete
search when responding to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in
2023 and 2024.

The SEC OIG report last week revealed texts from October 2022-September 2023 were destroyed. The Gensler SEC did this even though we asked for information about “all communications” within the SEC related to crypto regulatory and enforcement decision-making years ago. 2/3

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) September 11, 2025

The exchange is seeking a court order compelling the
SEC to produce all relevant communications, including records tied to
Ethereum ’s transition to proof-of-stake. Coinbase also requested an additional
hearing after discovery to consider remedies such as attorney fees and possibly
a special counsel investigation.

SEC Responds

An SEC spokesperson said transparency remains central
to the regulator’s operations. “When Chairman Atkins was briefed on this
matter, he immediately directed staff to examine and fully understand what
occurred and to take steps that will prevent it from happening again,” the
agency said.

Read more: UK Trade Groups Push for Blockchain Inclusion in Tech Deal With U.S.

The Inspector General’s report revealed that text
messages from October 2022 to September 2023 were lost before backups could be
made. That period overlapped with the SEC’s lawsuits against several crypto
companies, including its 2023 case accusing Coinbase of operating as an
unlicensed securities broker.

Coinbase has argued that Gensler’s private
communications could be critical in its defense. The new motion underscores the
growing friction between the exchange and the SEC, as disputes over missing
records now add to an already high-stakes regulatory fight.

Jared Kirui

  • 2224 Articles
  • 42 Followers

Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.

  • 2224 Articles
  • 42 Followers

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Photo of Jared Kirui Jared Kirui Send an email September 13, 2025
3 15 minutes read
Photo of Jared Kirui

Jared Kirui

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