San Francisco-based exchange Coinbase has been hit hard by recent redemptions after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against the platform for failing to register its staking-as-a-service program. The fallout from the legal action has led to a surge in redemptions of Coinbase's CBETH, the exchange's staked ether product. On June 6, a staggering 27,280 CBETH tokens were redeemed, followed by nearly 9,000 CBETH the following day, according to data from Dune Analytics.
As of today, June 8, over 3,400 CBETH tokens have already been redeemed, signaling a growing concern among investors. Coinbase, which currently holds 1,106,424 ether, making it the second-largest liquid staking service provider in terms of ETH held, is facing a potential challenge from Rocket Pool. If the trend of redemptions continues, Rocket Pool, which currently holds 761,641 ether, may overtake Coinbase as the second-largest market share holder.
Despite Coinbase's significant market share, accounting for 11.46% of the 9,650,762 ETH locked into decentralized finance (defi) protocols, its position pales in comparison to Lido Finance. Lido Finance currently dominates the market with an impressive 7,155,072 ETH, representing a massive 74.14% of the market share.
Coinbase's CBETH has experienced a decline of 3.56% over the last 30 days and a decrease of 2.28% over the past seven days. These numbers highlight the impact of the recent legal action on investor sentiment. As the SEC lawsuit continues to unfold, market dynamics are likely to shift, potentially reshaping the landscape of the liquid staking market.
Coinbase's stash of ether, valued at $2.12 billion based on current exchange rates, remains a significant asset for the platform. However, the growing number of redemptions raises questions about investor confidence in Coinbase's staking-as-a-service program. The outcome of the SEC lawsuit will play a crucial role in determining the future trajectory of Coinbase's market position and the overall landscape of liquid staking services.
