Coinbase is kicking out several employees it took on as part of its recent acquisition of blockchain analytics firm Neutrino over links to a surveillance technology company that has worked with governments with poor human rights records.
Coinbase closed the Neutrino acquisition last month, in the process hiring the blockchain intelligence platform's management.
However, in a blog entitled 'Living up to our values and the Neutrino acquisition', Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says that several people will now "transition out" of Coinbase.
The reason for the departures is a past association with Hacking Team, a surveillance firm known for working with governments - including Egypt, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia - with histories of human rights violations.
When the acquisition was announced, Coinbase faced a backlash, with a social media campaign encouraging people to close their accounts with the crypto-giant.
Armstrong now admits "a gap in our diligence process" and confirms the departures, adding: "This was not an easy decision, but their prior work does present a conflict with our mission."