Benzinga - Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ: COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong expressed concerns about the current regulatory environment for the cryptocurrency industry in the U.S., suggesting the company might contemplate relocating if clarity doesn't improve.
What Happened: "Anything is on the table, including relocating or whatever is necessary," Armstrong stated in response to a question from former U.K. Chancellor George Osborne during London's Fintech Week about whether he could envision Coinbase leaving the U.S., according to Coindesk.
Armstrong emphasized that while the U.S. has the potential to be a significant market for cryptocurrencies, the absence of regulatory clarity is concerning.
"I think in a number of years if we don't see that regulatory clarity emerges in the U.S., we may have to consider investing more elsewhere in the world," he added.
Also Read: Contradictory Statements from US Regulatory Heads Challenge Businesses
Why It Matters: Armstrong also acknowledged the U.K.'s advantage in terms of regulatory clarity, as the country's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) oversees both commodities and securities.
In contrast, the U.S. has separate regulatory bodies, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
"You don't have this unfortunate thing happening where the CFTC and the SEC are having a turf battle," Armstrong pointed out.
He further criticized the contradictory statements from the heads of the CFTC and the SEC, which occur almost every few weeks.
"How's a business going to operate in that environment? We just want a clear rulebook," Armstrong said.
It's worth noting Coinbase recently received a Wells Notice from the SEC, warning of possible regulatory action related to the listing of unregistered securities.
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