Coinbase arbitration dispute is reviewed by US Supreme Court

Key Points:

• Coinbase is appealing a lower court ruling that favored users who claimed that a 2021 sweepstakes organized by the trading platform was deceptive advertising.
• Coinbase arbitration dispute is preferred because it is more cost-effective and provides faster resolution than courtroom litigation.
• The main issue is whether a judge or an arbitrator should determine which of the two conflicting agreements takes precedence in the dispute between Coinbase and its disgruntled users.

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the Coinbase arbitration dispute, involving the company’s attempt to move a dispute with users from the courtroom to private arbitration, which is often preferred by businesses.

Coinbase Appeals Lower Court Ruling Favoring Users in Deceptive Advertising Lawsuit

Coinbase is appealing a lower court’s decision that ruled in favor of users who claimed that a 2021 sweepstakes organized by the trading platform was deceptive advertising. Companies generally prefer arbitration because it is more cost-effective and provides faster resolution compared to courtroom litigation, which can be more complex and carry the risk of significant damages.

The main issue at hand is whether a judge or an arbitrator should determine which of the two conflicting agreements takes precedence in the dispute between Coinbase and its disgruntled users. This decision will determine whether the dispute will be resolved through arbitration or in a court of law.

Coinbase Arbitration Dispute Heads to Supreme Court

When users created their Coinbase accounts, they agreed to resolve disputes through arbitration. However, a subsequent agreement related to the sweepstakes stated that contest disputes should be addressed in a California court. Users accused Coinbase of violating California’s false advertising laws by enticing them to participate in a sweepstakes with dogecoin prizes. They filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court.

Despite Coinbase’s argument for arbitration, a federal judge in California denied the company’s request, keeping the Coinbase Arbitration Dispute alive in court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judge’s decision. In a similar dispute, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Coinbase. The ruling supported Coinbase’s efforts to halt customer lawsuits and pursue appeals for private arbitration.

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