Coinbase’s Chief Compliance Officer Jeff Horowitz Set to Exit

Coinbase’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Jeff Horowitz, is leaving the cryptocurrency exchange after two years of pivotal service. Horowitz, who joined the company in 2018, has been instrumental in establishing anti-money laundering (AML) policies and guiding the exchange’s compliance with global regulatory standards.

A Key Figure in Coinbase’s Compliance Evolution

Before joining Coinbase, Horowitz had a distinguished career spanning prominent financial institutions such as Lehman Brothers, Citigroup, and BNY Mellon’s Pershing, where he led compliance and AML programs.

At Coinbase, Horowitz:

• Shaped Compliance Policies: Played a central role in ensuring Coinbase adhered to recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other global regulators.
• Secured Key Partnerships: Was instrumental in onboarding JPMorgan Chase as a banking partner for Coinbase, a significant milestone in the crypto exchange’s journey toward mainstream financial legitimacy.
• Regulatory Advocacy: Engaged with regulators such as FinCEN, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and international bodies to shape cryptocurrency regulations.

Not Connected to Coinbase’s Recent Controversy

Sources confirm that Horowitz’s departure is unrelated to the recent controversial blog post by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, which emphasized the company’s apolitical stance and led to a voluntary exit of about 5% of the company’s employees.

Temporary Leadership Transition

While Coinbase searches for a new CCO, Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, will oversee the company’s compliance programs with support from the existing compliance team. A Coinbase spokesperson expressed gratitude for Horowitz’s contributions:

“Jeff played an active role in helping to shape crypto and AML regulation with FATF, FinCEN, Dept. of Treasury, and regulators around the globe. We’re grateful for his service and wish him the best in the future.”

The Road Ahead for Coinbase

As one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, Coinbase’s compliance with global regulatory frameworks is critical to its operations. Horowitz’s departure marks a significant shift as the company continues to navigate an evolving regulatory landscape.

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