Kraken CEO sues San Francisco corporation over crypto-related discrimination

Co-founder and CEO of Kraken, Jesse Powell has sued a San Francisco corporation for denying him the purchase of a building based on his involvement with cryptocurrency.

The lawsuit filed on 5 February claims that the corporation ganged up to sabotage Powell’s purchase of a property at 2500 Steiner Street in San Francisco that was already finalized with the seller who was willing to sell.

According to the filing, the corporation broke the California’s Fair Employment Housing Act and the California’s Unruh Act and is liable to Powell.

A long history of discrimination

The cryptocurrency industry has suffered a lot of discrimination and attack, especially by the Democratic government of the immediate past president, Joe Biden.

Such resistance has come mostly from Democrat lawmakers, but also from supporters of the party. 

Powell claims that the corporation, which is Democratic, decided to sabotage his possession of the property only after finding out he was the buyer.

He also believes that the refusal to release the property has to do with his deep crypto involvement as well as his mostly conservative views in support of the Republican party.

The resistance is said to be led by one Bruce Golden who lived in the apartment. The filing claims that:

“Once Mr. Golden found out that the buyer was Mr. Powell, Mr. Golden’s demeanor changed, and, on information and belief, he made it his personal mission to deny the sale. Despite Mr. Powell’s willingness to purchase the unit and the sellers’ willingness to sell, Mr. Golden and the Corporation had other plans.”

Powell is therefore seeking judgment in his favor concerning the apartment, as well as payment for compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and cost.

He is also asking for pre- and post-judgment interest to the maximum extent permitted by law, as well as all other judgments as the court deems necessary.