Coinbase Faces Lawsuit over wBTC Delisting: Integrates Apple Pay for Crypto Conversions

Coinbase has issued a formal response to a lawsuit filed by
BiT Global, a company tied to Justin Sun. The dispute arose after Coinbase
announced it would delist wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC) from its platform on December
19.

BiT Global alleges that the delisting is defamatory and aims
to monopolize the tokenized Bitcoin market. The lawsuit highlights concerns
over Coinbase’s decision, accusing the exchange of anti-competitive behavior.

Meanwhile, Coinbase introduced Apple Pay support for
fiat-to-crypto conversions, reflecting US regulatory trends and Apple’s growing
interest in digital assets.

Coinbase Responds to wBTC Lawsuit

The conflict stems from changes in the custodianship of
wBTC. In August, BitGo announced it would share two of the three operational
keys for wBTC with BiT Global and its Singapore-based subsidiary. Coinbase raised
concerns about these changes, citing increased protocol risk due to Sun’s
involvement.

Bit Global, the custodian recently added to WBTC through its partnership with Justin Sun, has sued Coinbase over its delistingThey say Coinbase unfairly delisted WBTC to push its own rival product, cbBTC pic.twitter.com/8cpojx5mFX

— db (@tier10k) December 13, 2024

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, addressed the
lawsuit. He stated that the company’s response to BiT Global’s request for a
temporary restraining order challenges the merits of the case. Grewal explained
that the decision to delist wBTC followed internal reviews and was influenced
by allegations of past financial misconduct involving Sun.

BiT Global Accuses Coinbase of Monopoly

BiT Global claims Coinbase’s actions promote its own
product, cbBTC, over wBTC. It accuses Coinbase of “predatory
practices,” noting that cbBTC’s market capitalization is $2 billion,
significantly smaller than wBTC’s $13.4 billion.

The lawsuit also argues that delisting wBTC violates federal
laws intended to prevent monopolistic practices. Coinbase, in its defense,
stated that its platform accounts for less than 1% of wBTC transactions,
minimizing any potential impact on BiT Global.

🚨BREAKING: #Coinbase responds to Justin Sun-connected BiT Global’s lawsuit over delisting wBTC. pic.twitter.com/RZmhWiE5Cv

— SmartViewAI.Com (@smartviewai) December 18, 2024

Coinbase’s concerns are linked to Sun’s regulatory history,
which includes investigations by the SEC and FBI. The case highlights ongoing
tensions in the crypto industry regarding custodianship, competition, and
regulatory scrutiny.

Coinbase, Apple Pay Expand Crypto

While Coinbase faces a lawsuit over the delisting of wBTC, it
has expanded its offerings by integrating Apple Pay for fiat-to-crypto
conversions.

Coinbase integrates ApplePay for #Bitcoin and crypto purchases pic.twitter.com/tN1ZbeW8sO

— Radar🚨 (@RadarHits) December 3, 2024

This move aims to enhance accessibility to digital assets. For
Apple, it reflects a shift toward the growing crypto market, influenced by
changing political and regulatory trends in the US, including the potential
arrival of Paul Atkins at the SEC, as reported by Finance Magnates.

Apple, once cautious about embracing digital assets, has
recently shown a more open stance. Historically, the company resisted crypto
due to concerns about user value and its own ecosystem risks.

However, Apple
has begun to collaborate with crypto platforms like Coinbase, signaling a more
active exploration of the crypto space, aligned with the current digital
landscape in the US.

This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.
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