Paul Grewal, the chief legal officer who guided cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc. through high-stakes regulatory battles and federal litigation, is stepping down after nearly six years in the role.
Coinbase disclosed in a securities filing that Grewal notified the company of his intention to resign as chief legal officer and secretary effective July 31. He is to transition into an advisory role through October while retaining his seat on the board of Coinbase National Trust Company.
Molly Abraham, currently vice president of legal, will succeed him as general counsel, while legal executive Ryan VanGrack steps into the role of vice chair and head of corporate affairs.
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By (July 13, 2026)
Since joining Coinbase in 2020, Grewal has served as a prominent public advocate and legal architect for the digital asset industry. He managed the company through its 2021 public stock market listing and spearheaded its legal defense against enforcement actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which concluded in a major legal victory when the regulator dismissed its primary lawsuit.
Beyond the courtroom, Grewal frequently testified before Congress to press lawmakers for legislative clarity on token classifications and stablecoin rules.
Grewal’s legal career spans senior positions across both the public and private sectors. Before entering the cryptocurrency space, he earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 1996.
He built a distinguished career in the federal judiciary, serving as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California from 2010 to 2016, where he presided over complex technology, patent, and commercial litigation in Silicon Valley.
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Following his tenure on the bench, Grewal transitioned to corporate law, serving as vice president and deputy general counsel at Facebook before joining Coinbase.
Throughout his professional career, Grewal maintained an active role in legal leadership and professional organizations, including serving as president of the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California and the North American South Asian Bar Association.
The internal promotion of Abraham and VanGrack signals continuity for Coinbase’s legal strategy as the company focuses on international expansion, tokenized assets, and pending digital asset legislation in Washington.