Paul Grewal, the legal mind who guided Coinbase through one of the most turbulent regulatory periods in crypto history, has left the exchange to join Cognition AI as its first Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer. The move, effective August 2026, caps a nearly six-year run at Coinbase that saw Grewal become one of the most visible legal voices in the digital asset industry.

From the courtroom to the codebase

Grewal’s tenure at Coinbase began in July 2020, right as the exchange was gearing up for its direct listing and bracing for what would become an increasingly hostile regulatory environment. He served as Chief Legal Officer until July 31, 2026, navigating the company through a pivotal Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit that became a defining moment for the entire crypto industry.

Before Coinbase, Grewal served as a US Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, then moved into Big Tech as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Facebook.

His successor at Coinbase is Molly Abraham, who previously served as the company’s vice president of legal. She takes over as general counsel.

Grewal isn’t cutting ties with Coinbase entirely, though. He’ll continue advising the exchange until October 31, 2026, and will maintain his seat on the board of Coinbase’s National Trust Company.

Why Cognition AI wanted a crypto warrior

Cognition AI is the company behind Devin, an AI-powered engineering agent that has generated significant buzz in the artificial intelligence space. The company is building autonomous AI systems capable of handling complex software engineering tasks. Bringing on Grewal as its first Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer signals that Cognition is bracing for the kind of regulatory scrutiny that AI companies are increasingly facing.