Coinbase is strengthening its ties with former President Donald Trump. They just appointed his co-campaign manager to their advisory council. This comes right after a meeting between Trump and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, where they discussed staffing matters.
Chris LaCivita, who worked as Trump’s co-campaign manager for the 2024 election, is joining a group that includes some notable names. Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, former New York Federal Reserve President Bill Dudley, and former Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Luis Alberto Moreno are also part of this Global Advisory Council. LaCivita has strong connections with the Republican National Committee and keeps a close relationship with the former president.
LaCivita believes the crypto industry “deserves better” than the regulatory approach taken by President Joe Biden’s administration. He echoes Trump’s vision of making the U.S. a leader in digital assets.
Coinbase set up its advisory council back in May 2023 to help navigate the complicated world of cryptocurrency. The council has included several former lawmakers, like former Senator Pat Toomey. Cointelegraph reached out to Coinbase about its current relationship with the Trump administration but didn’t hear back before publication.
In November, Armstrong reportedly met with Trump to talk about potential appointments after the U.S. election. Coinbase even donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and said it was committed to supporting the transition from the Biden administration.
Back in 2020, Armstrong stated that Coinbase would not support any specific causes or candidates outside its mission. He called those distractions. However, after receiving a Wells notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023—leading to a civil lawsuit—the company began efforts to influence U.S. congressional elections. They contributed $45 million to help elect pro-crypto candidates in 2024.
With Trump back in the spotlight, some crypto executives suggest that the new leadership at the SEC might ease enforcement actions. This could affect Coinbase’s ongoing legal challenges. A federal judge has stayed Coinbase’s case as of January, waiting for a decision from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that could overturn a previous ruling against the exchange.