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everytime i hear about a Coinbase executive claim that politics should be left at the door, i think about one of their old pitch decks in which they (approvingly) highlighted how Bitcoin could be used to bypass sanctions:
here's some background on that slide: https://twitter.com/ofnumbers/status/1024242869006225408?s=19
also worth pointing out that Coinbase itself setup (and shut down) a PAC last year: https://www.coindesk.com/coinbases-political-action-committee-shuts-down-without-ever-raising-a-cent
last year they spent about $200,000 lobbying in DC: https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2019&id=F191419
they have also founded (and left) at least one lobbying organization ( @BlockchainAssn): https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-exits-industry-lobbying-group-in-protest-over-recent-unspecified-decisions
their Board and executive management team are filled with a coterie of ex-regulators and ex-bankers who help (privately) lobby on their behalf. their major investors (such as a16z) host private events for regulators to "be educated" on tokens CB lists: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/technology/virtual-currency-securities.html
again, this is not to say companies or founders can't change over time. but it's inconsistent to "disclaim" politics at the company yet then spend oodles of resources politicking too.
the former was discussed in a new article today from @nathanielpopper: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/technology/coinbase-cryptocurrency-black-employees.html
the former was discussed in a new article today from @nathanielpopper: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/technology/coinbase-cryptocurrency-black-employees.html
