Key TakeawaysJudge Coleman agreed that pausing the case was appropriate, writing that a stay would simplify proceedingsThe lawsuit, filed in May, accuses Coinbase of violating Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)A federal judge in Illinois has agreed to halt proceedings in a lawsuit against crypto exchange giant Coinbase that centres on alleged violations of the state’s biometric privacy law. The decision allows the case to remain on hold until an appellate court delivers a ruling in a separate but related matter that could affect the outcome.In a filing on Thursday, Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division approved Coinbase’s request to stay the case. The exchange had argued that the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals is currently reviewing a dispute involving Nuance Communications and Charles Schwab, which also concerns biometric data. Coinbase maintained that the appellate decision could provide guidance on key legal issues.Judge Coleman agreed that pausing the case and providing a brief stay on it was appropriate, writing that a stay would simplify proceedings, reduce litigation burdens for both the court and the parties involved, and would not cause undue disadvantage to the plaintiffs.“Court finds that the stay would simplify the issues and streamline the trial….reduce the burden of litigation on the Court and the parties…..would not unduly prejudice or tactically disadvantage Plaintiffs,” the court observed.The lawsuit, filed in May, accuses Coinbase of violating Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Plaintiffs allege the company collected and stored faceprints from customers as part of its Know Your Customer checks without proper consent. The complaint points to Coinbase’s process requiring users to upload a government-issued photo ID alongside a selfie. According to the filing, these images were shared with a third-party facial recognition provider, which extracted biometric data such as facial geometry.The plaintiffs further claim Coinbase failed to provide a written policy for data retention and destruction, a requirement under BIPA. They argue that users were not informed about how their biometric identifiers would be handled, nor were they asked to give written consent, as mandated by the law.BIPA, enacted in 2008, is one of the strictest biometric privacy laws in the United States. It requires companies to obtain informed consent before collecting biometric data such as fingerprints, retina scans, or facial geometry. Penalties can reach USD1,000 for each negligent breach and up to USD5,000 for every reckless or intentional violation. In addition to damages, the plaintiffs are seeking reimbursement of litigation costs.WazirX Shuts Down NFT MarketplaceTop 5 Apps to Make Money Daily Trading Meme CoinsMemecoin Buy of the Month: Buy Floki at these levels!Ethereum Merge is here, the Transition to Proof-of-Stake is Now Complete