SEC Announces “Project Crypto,” but a Grammar Debate Stole the Show

Paul Atkins’ use of “on-chain” triggered a debate among Coinbase executives. Participants have interchanged “on-chain” and “onchain” for several years. An argument arose after a crucial announcement by the SEC chair. A supposedly insignificant detail in one of the blockchain industry’s most common terminologies has caused a debate among crypto industry leaders. An argument arose among top Coinbase officials after the SEC chair, Paul Atkins, used the word “on-chain” in an official statement. The great crypto controversy of our time is no more. @SECPaulSAtkins has resolved it once and for all. It's not "on chain" or "onchain"– it's "on-chain". pic.twitter.com/MQamqYQdJ6 — paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) August 1, 2025 Who makes the grammatical rules? Following the SEC chair’s use of “on-chain” in place of “onchain” in his statement, Coinbase’s chief legal officer (CLO), Paul Grewal, noted that it has laid to rest the argument over which of the two is suited for the industry. Grewal argued with Viktor Bunin, Coinbase’s protocol specialist, who insisted that the SEC chair’s use of the term does not guarantee that it… The post SEC Announces “Project Crypto,” but a Grammar Debate Stole the Show appeared first on Coin Edition .