(Reuters) - A federal judge rejected Coinbase's bid to dismiss a proposed class action by shareholders who accused the operator of the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange of downplaying the likelihood it would be sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti in Newark, New Jersey, ruled on Thursday, 15 months after the SEC's June 6, 2023 civil lawsuit accusing Coinbase of operating an unregistered securities exchange. Coinbase's share price fell 12% that day.