Coinbase’s S&P 500 Inclusion Unaffected by SEC Probe and Cybersecurity Breach, Analysts Maintain Bullish Outlook

Coinbase has become the first crypto-native company to join the S&P 500, marking a milestone for the cryptocurrency sector. This development comes despite facing both a significant cybersecurity breach—caused by insider collusion and blackmail attempts that compromised user data—and an ongoing SEC investigation into its historical user metrics. Coinbase previously reported over 100 million verified users, a figure now under SEC scrutiny for potentially overstating actual activity. The U.S. exchange clarified that ’verified users’ included anyone verifying an email or phone, and is now shifting focus to monthly transacting users for transparency. Industry analysts, notably from Benchmark, suggest that the cyberattack is isolated and the SEC probe is unlikely to affect the company’s core growth drivers or stock price. Experts highlight these events as reminders of centralization risks in crypto infrastructure but express confidence in Coinbase’s resilience. The company’s continued S&P 500 inclusion is seen as a sign of stability and credibility, with limited risk to its market position or the broader crypto market, reinforcing trader sentiment.