Leading U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has expanded its Global Advisory Council, bringing on four prominent figures, including Chris LaCivita, the mastermind behind Donald Trump’s successful 2024 campaign.
This development comes as Coinbase faces criticism for its swift listing of memecoins, prompting CEO Brian Armstrong to announce a review of the exchange’s token listing policy. LaCivita, a key figure in Trump’s historic election win, joins the advisory council with hopes of shaping crypto policy under the new administration.
LaCivita remarked, “The crypto industry deserves more than what it received from the previous administration” and looks forward to collaborating with the new leadership to position the U.S. as a global crypto leader.
While the exact role LaCivita will play at Coinbase remains unclear, his experience and political influence make him a significant addition to the team.
In addition to LaCivita, Coinbase has added several other influential figures, including Bill Dudley, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Luis Alberto Moreno, former president of the Inter-American Development Bank, and Kyrsten Sinema, former U.S. senator.
With pro-crypto advocates gaining traction in Washington, Coinbase believes the U.S. is entering a new phase of crypto leadership. However, Sinema cautioned that while the Trump administration may be crypto-friendly, it does not mean that the industry will bypass legislation and regulation. She emphasized that industry leaders should not expect to operate without regulatory oversight simply because the administration is supportive of crypto.
In the midst of these developments, Coinbase’s decision to list memecoins like TRUMP and MELANIA has raised eyebrows. These tokens were introduced under the exchange’s “Experiment asset” category.
In response to growing concerns, CEO Brian Armstrong acknowledged that the exchange needs to reassess its listing process. He noted that the rapid creation of new tokens—about one million per week—has made it increasingly difficult for Coinbase to evaluate each one thoroughly, calling it a “high-quality problem” for the platform.
