Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has strengthened its board of directors with the addition of three new members, including a senior executive from OpenAI who once served as a political strategist for President Bill Clinton.
Key Appointments to the Board
On July 25, Coinbase announced the appointment of Chris Lehane as one of its 10 directors. Lehane, who served as Clinton’s Democratic strategist in 1992 before Clinton’s presidency from 1993 to 2001, brings a wealth of experience to the board. Lehane also played a pivotal role in enabling Airbnb to become a legal operator across all 50 U.S. states and globally. Currently, he is the Vice President of Public Works at OpenAI. Prior to joining the board, Lehane was a member of Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council.
Coinbase highlighted Lehane’s strategic expertise, stating, “With countries around the world developing new rules that embrace crypto’s potential to update the financial system, Chris will provide strategic counsel to Coinbase’s leadership as the company works to make onchain the new online.”
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Additional Board Members
Two other notable directors have also joined the board:
- Christa Davies: Former Chief Financial Officer at management consulting firm Aon, and previously at Microsoft’s platforms and services division. Davies will serve on Coinbase’s audit and compliance committee, supporting the firm’s financial operations.
- Paul Clement: A former partner at law firm Clement and Murphy and former U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Clement has argued over 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, making him one of the most experienced attorneys in Supreme Court litigation. His expertise is expected to be valuable in Coinbase’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Clement will also assist Coinbase’s audit and compliance committee alongside Davies.
Commitment to Financial Inclusion
The new board members share a common belief in the potential of digital assets to enhance financial inclusion, particularly for marginalized communities. Lehane expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am excited to support Coinbase as they continue to advocate for the 52 million Americans who own crypto (over-indexing on young people of color) and work to democratize the benefits of capitalism so more people can keep their fair share of the economic pie.”
