Paul Grewal

Paul Grewal is an American attorney and technology-sector executive best known in crypto as the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Coinbase. In that role, he oversees legal strategy across regulation, litigation, corporate governance, and public policy for one of the most influential U.S.-based digital asset companies. Grewal’s background spans the judiciary, private practice, and major consumer technology firms, experience that has shaped his approach to crypto compliance and regulatory engagement.

Overview

Grewal became a widely recognized figure in the crypto industry as Coinbase increased its focus on legal and policy debates around exchange regulation, token classification, and market structure in the United States. As CLO, he has been a public-facing spokesperson for Coinbase’s positions on regulatory clarity and due process, and he has represented the company in high-profile disputes and Congressional discussions tied to the future of digital asset legislation.

History and Background

Grewal’s career began in law with an emphasis on litigation and complex disputes. He later served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, an experience that placed him at the center of high-stakes technology and intellectual property cases in one of the most active federal districts for tech-related litigation. His time on the bench contributed to a profile that combines courtroom familiarity with a strong understanding of how technology businesses manage legal risk.

After leaving the judiciary, Grewal joined Facebook, now known as Meta, where he served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. In that role, he worked across major regulatory and litigation matters common to large consumer internet platforms, including issues involving privacy, platform governance, and commercial disputes. This period provided additional exposure to the practical realities of operating at global scale under shifting regulatory expectations.

Role at Coinbase

Grewal joined Coinbase in 2020 and became the company’s Chief Legal Officer and corporate secretary. His tenure has coincided with a period of rapid institutionalization in crypto markets, alongside increased enforcement activity and rulemaking debates in the United States and other major jurisdictions. Within Coinbase, the CLO function sits at the intersection of product development, compliance operations, and policy advocacy, particularly where new offerings may touch securities law, derivatives rules, consumer protection requirements, and sanctions compliance.

As Coinbase expanded its product mix, Grewal’s responsibilities have included shaping how the company approaches asset listings, disclosures, custody practices, and relationships with regulators. He has also supported corporate governance priorities tied to operating as a public company, including board oversight, risk reporting, and engagement with investors on regulatory exposure and strategic positioning.

Regulatory Advocacy and Public Engagement

Grewal has regularly argued that crypto markets need clearer statutory frameworks, rather than regulation primarily through enforcement actions. This position has been expressed through public statements, policy commentary, and formal testimony, including appearances before lawmakers on issues such as digital asset market structure, banking access for crypto businesses, and the division of oversight between financial regulators. In practical terms, his messaging has emphasized consistent rules for centralized intermediaries and better-defined pathways for compliant product development.

He has also emphasized transparency themes that became more prominent after major industry failures, including calls for stronger operational standards and clearer disclosures around custodial risk. While approaches differ across the industry, Grewal’s role has frequently involved explaining Coinbase’s compliance posture and operational controls to policymakers, institutional partners, and market participants.

Use Cases and Market Position

Because Coinbase operates as a major onramp to assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the company’s legal strategy can influence broader market norms. Legal determinations about what products can be offered, how assets are described, and where services are available often shape user access, liquidity patterns, and competitive dynamics for other exchanges and brokers. Grewal’s work therefore has implications beyond Coinbase, particularly when legal outcomes set informal precedents for compliance expectations across the U.S. market.

Risks and Considerations

Grewal’s profile is closely linked to Coinbase’s exposure to regulatory and litigation risk. Ongoing debates around whether certain digital assets are securities, how staking and yield products should be regulated, and what disclosure standards apply to centralized intermediaries remain unsettled in many jurisdictions. These uncertainties can affect product availability, geographic expansion, and the costs of compliance, including the need to respond to investigations, lawsuits, and changing rule interpretations.

In addition, the public-facing nature of the CLO role can create reputational risk, especially in a market where legal messaging is closely scrutinized by regulators, industry peers, and investors. Grewal’s tenure has illustrated how legal leadership in crypto increasingly combines traditional corporate counsel responsibilities with policy engagement and public communication during a period of rapid regulatory change.

• Coinbase Chief Legal Officer
• Epiq Director