Global crypto exchange Coinbase delisted the Ethereum Layer 2 project Movement (MOVE), following reports of crypto market manipulation and token governance issues.

The exchange had already changed the L2 crypto to limit-only trading before the Coinbase MOVE token delisting, which suspended trading for the token

Global crypto exchange Coinbase has delisted the Ethereum Layer 2 project Movement (MOVE), following reports of crypto market manipulation and token governance issues. The exchange had already adjusted the L2 crypto to limit-only trading before the Coinbase MOVE token delisting, which occurred on May 15, 2025, and suspended trading for the token.

Coinbase assesses the legal, technical, and business aspects thoroughly for all its crypto asset listings. This procedure is crucial when deciding on potentially new tokens that the exchange could accept. However, the concerning events surrounding the MOVE token could also see a tightening of new listing standards at Coinbase and other established cryptocurrency exchanges.

Flagged Trading Activity Prompts Market Investigation

Leaked reports displayed abnormal trading activity on MOVE Token in late 2024. Shortly after MOVE was listed on various crypto exchanges, the market maker Web3Port reportedly liquidated $38 million worth of the token. The incident saw Binance freeze the market maker’s account, which was involved in the selloff of 66 million MOVE tokens.

Prior to the mass liquidation, the Movement Foundation, the company behind Movement, was completing a market maker deal with Rentech, acting as a middleman between Movement Labs and Web3Port. Initially, the Movement Foundation’s general counsel rejected the market maker contract due to the proposals being made to a company with no previous market history.

However, Movement finally agreed to a revised edition of the market-making deal with Rentech, which contained a clause that enabled Web3Port to borrow 5% of the MOVE token supply and liquidate it for a profit.

Reported Internal Governance Conflicts at Movement Labs

Another leaked document displayed a pre-existing agreement between Web3Port and the Movement Foundation, but with Rentech acting as Movement’s representative. Following this, stakeholders and employees within Movement Labs began speculating and placing blame on possible insiders involved in the market maker deal and market manipulation scheme.

Additionally, Movement Labs, along with the Movement Foundation, commissioned a third-party review of the external market maker’s abnormal activities. On May 2, Movement suspended its co-founder, Rushi Manshe, and later terminated him due to the recent controversy.

MOVE Token Price Slumps After Coinbase Delisting

In the aftermath of the Movement Labs scandal, Coinbase switched to a limit-only trading mode for the MOVE token and delisted the crypto asset entirely on May 15. The initial Coinbase MOVE token delisting news saw a 20% price drop in the L2 crypto.

Based on MOVE token Coingecko data, the cryptocurrency’s market cap collapsed below the $500 million mark. Despite Bitcoin’s surge to $97,000 at the time, investors observed a continued MOVE token price drop.

MOVE’s Collapse: From Rising Star to Lower Lows

Backed by Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial portfolio, Movement launched in mid-2024 and quickly gained significant adoption in the crypto market. The Ethereum L2 project, built upon Meta’s Move programming language, saw an initial price increase to $0.70.

MOVE’s all-time high price of $1.45 in December 2024 gave it a $2.5 billion valuation, making it one of the best new cryptocurrencies to buy at the time. Since then, however, MOVE’s price has fallen by over 80%, with selloff after selloff each week.

How This Affects Future Crypto Exchange Listings

Coinbase follows a thorough asset listing process for vetting new tokens to buy for its platform. Having recently encountered issues with the MOVE token, the exchange might become stricter with its review procedures and identify any internal governance problems before adding cryptocurrencies to live trading.

The MOVE token delisting also has implications for upcoming Coinbase listings and new tokens in all cryptocurrency exchanges. The issue is particularly pressing due to the L2 crypto’s huge market cap, a sign that many investors see as showcasing minimal risk and high trustworthiness.

International firms and regulatory agencies could begin investigating more established crypto projects, issuing transparency checks and other requirements that exchanges might need to follow before listing new cryptocurrencies.

What Should MOVE Token Holders Do?

While MOVE is no longer available on Coinbase, the cryptocurrency is still live on Binance, OKX, MEXC, and other centralized exchanges. Current MOVE holders should monitor Movement’s official social media channels for updates and announcements on third-party audits and project milestones.

Additionally, investors should examine the significant token governance changes that will be made to ensure more transparency regarding the crypto project. Based on the most recent updates on Movement’s X account and official blog page, no announcements have been posted regarding the market maker controversy.

Transparency and Clarity Above All

The latest MOVE token debacle should serve as a warning to project developers and investors, highlighting the importance of clean and transparent governance for an organization’s long-term success. Any breaches or mismanagement can