The American cryptocurrency-trading platform has hired Lucas Matheson, former senior director of operations at Shopify, to lead its Canadian operations, the company confirmed to The Logic in an email. The Globe and Mail first reported the news. (The Logic)

Talking point: Coinbase’s hire comes amid increased pressure on international crypto-trading platforms operating in Canada without registration following the collapse of FTX. On Dec. 12, the Canadian Securities Administrators said it will soon give crypto platforms a deadline for delivering agreements to comply with certain requirements, adding they “will consider all applicable regulatory options” against those that don’t. Coinbase is the most popular crypto platform in Canada with 42 per cent of crypto holders using it, according to a September survey from the Ontario Securities Commission, despite the fact it has not yet registered with regulators or signed a pre-registration undertaking. In an email, Coinbase spokesperson Annica Benning said the company “has worked closely and continuously with Canadian regulators towards obtaining registration as a restricted dealer” since 2021. She did not respond to The Logic‘s question on how many staff it plans to hire in Canada.