Coinbase has urged U.S. regulators to lift the ban prohibiting SEC employees from owning or using cryptocurrencies, arguing that it hinders effective regulation of the industry. In letters dated April 22nd, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, wrote to both SEC Chair Paul Atkins and the Office of Government Ethics, highlighting the policy’s negative impact on regulatory oversight. The prohibition, according to Grewal, is particularly problematic as President Trump has directed agencies to propose regulatory solutions for advancing American digital financial leadership within 180 days. Coinbase argues that the current policy hinders staff’s ability to understand and apply the technology they are tasked with regulating. They propose rescinding Legal Advisory 22-04, which prohibits commission staff from buying or selling crypto assets. Grewal suggests waivers for members of the SEC Crypto Task Force, who are directly involved in cryptocurrency regulations. The company proposes that staff could own cryptocurrencies under specific conditions and emphasizes that current blanket prohibitions limit regulators’ ability to adapt to market changes.