Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta and current member of Coinbase’s global advisory council, has joined President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign as a senior adviser. Simultaneously, Coinbase has partnered with Stripe to enhance fiat-to-crypto transactions, while also addressing concerns over a reported data breach involving the Au10tix compliance platform. 

Coinbase and Stripe Forge New Partnership for Fiat-to-Crypto Solutions

Coinbase and Stripe have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing fiat-to-crypto on-ramps and off-ramps for their customers. The collaboration, unveiled on June 27, marks a major milestone in the integration of traditional finance with the burgeoning world of digital assets.

The partnership brings together the strengths of both companies, introducing support for USD Coin (USDC) on Stripe’s platform as part of its crypto payouts. This integration promises faster cross-border remittances and settlements of fiat equivalents across 150 countries, leveraging the stablecoin’s efficiency and stability. 

USDC will also play a crucial role in Stripe’s fiat-to-crypto on-ramp, simplifying the process for customers converting fiat to digital assets. Conversely, Coinbase will integrate Stripe’s fiat-to-crypto on-ramp, enabling users to purchase cryptocurrencies using credit cards and Apple Pay, thus broadening the accessibility and usability of digital currencies.

Stripe co-founder and president John Collison’s earlier commitment to reintroduce stablecoins to the platform has come to fruition. During the company’s Sessions conference, Collison had promised attendees the return of stablecoin support, and the latest move with Coinbase backs that commitment.

Stripe has a historical connection with cryptocurrencies, having been one of the first payment processors to offer Bitcoin services back in 2014. However, it later withdrew support due to Bitcoin’s limitations as a payment method during that period. This new integration, which includes support for Avalanche’s C-Chain for verified customers, marks Stripe’s renewed and expanded involvement in the crypto space.

The partnership comes at a time when Coinbase is actively navigating a complex regulatory landscape in the United States. The crypto exchange has taken a proactive stance, filing lawsuits against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Trust and Deposit Corporation (FDIC) on June 27. In these lawsuits, Coinbase alleges that these agencies failed to provide necessary materials under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Central to the lawsuit is the SEC’s exclusion of Ether (ETH) from the list of cryptocurrencies deemed to be unregistered securities, a list that includes Ripple’s XRP. Coinbase is now challenging the deliberation process behind this decision.

Additionally, Coinbase has launched the “Stand with Crypto” political action committee (PAC) to advocate for the industry and its participants. The PAC, which has garnered over 1 million signatures from crypto advocates, is a sign of the company’s commitment to defending the interests of the crypto community and promoting a favorable regulatory environment.

The partnership between Coinbase and Stripe represents a significant step forward in the integration of traditional and digital financial systems. By facilitating seamless fiat-to-crypto transactions, the collaboration is poised to enhance the user experience and broaden the adoption of cryptocurrencies globally. 

As both companies continue to innovate and expand their offerings, their combined efforts are likely to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of finance. The strategic alliance not only benefits their customers but also sets a precedent for other fintech and crypto companies aiming to bridge the gap between fiat and digital currencies.

Keisha Lance Bottoms Joins Biden’s 2024 Presidential Campaign as Senior Adviser

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta and a current member of Coinbase’s global advisory council, has announced her new role in President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign. According to a June 26 report from Ebony, Lance Bottoms will serve as a senior adviser for the campaign, bringing her extensive experience in public service and a unique perspective on the intersection of politics and cryptocurrency.

Lance Bottoms’ political journey is well-known, having served as the mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022. Her tenure was marked by significant achievements in urban development, social justice initiatives, and economic reforms. In April 2024, she joined Coinbase’s global advisory council after leaving her advisory position at the White House in 2023. Her new role with the Biden campaign will allow her to leverage her political acumen and her knowledge of the burgeoning crypto sector.

According to reports from The Hill on June 27, Lance Bottoms will maintain her position with Coinbase throughout the Biden campaign, which is set to culminate in the November elections when U.S. voters head to the polls. 

Lance Bottoms has been vocal about her belief in cryptocurrency as a nonpolitical and unifying issue. At a Coinbase “Stand With Crypto” event in Atlanta on June 26, she emphasized the potential of blockchain technology to empower communities, particularly those that are often unbanked or underbanked. “Atlanta has a thriving Black-owned blockchain community,” she stated. “Crypto offers an opportunity for communities that are often unbanked and underbanked to strengthen their financial freedom.”

The “Stand With Crypto” event in Atlanta took place just before a scheduled debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump. The advocacy group has been urging users to contact CNN moderators to ensure that crypto-related issues are addressed during the debate. With Lance Bottoms’ involvement, there is growing anticipation about how cryptocurrency might feature in the campaign discourse.

While it remains unclear whether Lance Bottoms will specifically advise the Biden campaign on cryptocurrency-related issues, there are indications that the topic will play a role in the election. Reports have suggested that President Biden is considering accepting crypto contributions from supporters and meeting with lawmakers to discuss digital assets. This potential shift in campaign financing could signal a broader acceptance and integration of cryptocurrency within the political framework.

Lance Bottoms’ advocacy for crypto aligns with her efforts at Coinbase, where she has been instrumental in promoting the Stand With Crypto political action committee (PAC). Since its launch in 2023, the PAC has amassed over one million advocates and has been actively supporting or opposing candidates based on their stance on cryptocurrency. 

Coinbase, along with the Fairshake Super PAC, has been a significant force behind these efforts, launching attack ads against politicians deemed anti-crypto by the Stand With Crypto movement.

As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, Keisha Lance Bottoms’ dual roles in politics and cryptocurrency place her at a pivotal intersection of these two worlds. Her contributions to the Biden campaign, coupled with her advocacy for crypto, suggest a dynamic and evolving landscape for both sectors. Whether or not she directly advises on cryptocurrency issues, her presence in the campaign is a testament to the growing importance of digital assets in the national conversation.

Coinbase Denies Data Breach Amid Au10tix Compliance Platform Controversy

In a recent development that has raised eyebrows in the cryptocurrency and cybersecurity communities, Coinbase has firmly denied any knowledge of a breach involving its customers' data. This denial follows a June 26 report that claimed employee credentials from the Au10tix compliance platform had been leaked on Telegram, potentially exposing sensitive customer information.

The controversy began when a June 26 report by 404 Media alleged that administrative credentials from Au10tix, an identity verification platform, had been exposed online for over a year. These credentials, reportedly discovered by cybersecurity firm SpiderSilk, were found on Telegram and could potentially allow hackers to access sensitive data. The exposed credentials might have been obtained through malware that infected an Au10tix employee's computer.

According to the report, a SpiderSilk security researcher used the credentials to access customer data from at least one of Au10tix's clients. This data included personal information such as names, dates of birth, nationalities, identification numbers, and types of documents uploaded, such as driver’s licenses. Additionally, links within the data led to actual images of American drivers' licenses, further heightening concerns about the extent of the data exposure.

Au10tix, which claims to serve prominent clients like Fiverr, TikTok, Uber, X (formerly Twitter), and Coinbase, responded by clarifying that while an employee credential was leaked, there was no evidence of data exploitation. A representative from Au10tix said in a recent interview, “Based on our current findings, we see no evidence that data has been exploited in any way.” The company emphasized that the credentials have been “completely removed” and that customer data is no longer accessible through them.

In an effort to prevent future incidents, Au10tix has disconnected the compromised operational system and replaced it with more secure systems. They are also reviewing their security procedures and strengthening security controls across all IT assets. Furthermore, a dedicated team has been appointed to continuously monitor for any future activity. The company asserted its commitment to compliance with the highest industry standards and best practices.

Despite the swirling allegations, Coinbase has stated unequivocally that it is unaware of any exposure of its customers' data. A representative from Coinbase said, “We are not aware of any Coinbase data exposure at this time and will continue to monitor the situation.” While the Au10tix website displays the Coinbase logo, suggesting a client relationship, Coinbase has neither confirmed nor denied using Au10tix for storing customer data.

The incident brings attention to the challenges centralized crypto exchanges face in balancing compliance requirements with data security. Most jurisdictions mandate Know Your Customer (KYC) verification for centralized exchanges, necessitating the collection of customer images of driver’s licenses or passports. Proponents argue that these measures are essential to prevent money laundering, while critics contend that they infringe on users’ privacy.

The reported breach and subsequent responses from both Au10tix and Coinbase highlight the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the cryptocurrency industry. As digital assets become increasingly mainstream, the security of personal information stored by exchanges and compliance platforms will remain a focal point for regulators, businesses, and users alike.

For now, Coinbase continues to monitor the situation closely, ensuring its users' data remains secure. Meanwhile, Au10tix’s swift actions to mitigate the potential breach and reinforce their security protocols are a reminder of the ongoing vigilance required to safeguard sensitive information in an increasingly interconnected digital world.