Tag Archives: #Legal

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expressed a lack of opposition to postponing the Terraform co-founder Do Kwon’s crypto fraud trial and, instead, is open to waiting until he is extradited. Two court filings were submitted by federal prosecutors, outlining the case against Kwon and Terraform Labs concerning the $40 billion collapse of TerraLuna (LUNC) and TerraUSD (UST) in May 2022. SEC Consents to Delay in Terraform Case The SEC has consented to a “modest...

A father-son duo, residents of Maryland, have been sentenced for their involvement in a dark web drug trafficking and Bitcoin money laundering scheme. Joseph Farace, aged 72, was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison on January 8 for aiding his son, Ryan Farace, aged 38, in the laundering of Bitcoin proceeds from illicit drug sales. Bitcoin Laundering Scheme Unearthed in Maryland A previously convicted felon, Ryan Farace, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison,...

Crypto firms faced substantial regulatory action, collectively paying nearly $6 billion in fines primarily due to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) violations and deficiencies in customer checks last year. This marks a significant development, as crypto and fintech groups experienced higher fines for inadequate controls than the entire traditional financial system for the first time. Crypto-Related Fines Surge The total fines of $5.8 billion in 2023, including a substantial $4.3...

Celsius, the platform whose bankruptcy plan was finally approved late last year, has recently lashed out at former clients who cashed out before the company had the opportunity to freeze their funds. Bold Propositions The former crypto staking, lending, and exchange platform that has since shifted its focus to Bitcoin mining following the approval of the judge in its bankruptcy case was the first major player in crypto to bring up the “unsecured creditors” argument in court...

In January of 2023, YouTuber CoffeeZilla posted a three-part series on Logan Paul’s CryptoZoo project. To participate in the upcoming game of the same name, customers had to purchase egg NFTs, which would then hatch, allowing the purchaser to play with and breed the animal. Rumors of a Rugpull However, the social media accounts associated with the platform had gone dark, and Logan Paul allegedly avoided talking about the project. After CoffeeZilla’s videos on the subject,...

Chinese official media has highlighted the growing concern over corrupt officials utilizing advanced methods to conceal and transfer illicit gains. This trend, marked by the use of cryptocurrencies and other digital mediums, was a central topic at the 2023 annual meeting of the China Integrity and Legal Research Association. China Faces New Wave of Crypto-Related Corruption The association, a national-level entity registered under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, discussed the...

Earlier this year, the SEC’s crusade against cryptocurrencies seemed to be coming to a head after Judge Analisa Torres sided mostly in favor of Ripple, who ruled that XRP is, broadly speaking, not a security and that its purchase could only be considered an investment contract in certain circumstances. The two parties, however, are still duking it out, with a final decision expected in early 2024. Terraform Labs Attempted to Capitalize on Ripple’s Headwinds Given the success...

China’s Supreme Procuratorate has dealt a significant blow against illegal cryptocurrency operations by sentencing Zhao Dong, the founder of RenrenBit and a minor shareholder of Bitfinex, to a seven-year prison term. The prominent crypto figure faced charges for running illegal business operations and engaging in unauthorized foreign exchange trading. This move underscores China’s continued crackdown on illicit activities within the industry. Crypto OTC Illegal Ventures Dong,...

Genesis, a bankrupt crypto lender, has successfully won a legal bid to prevent its parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), from selling or diminishing its ownership stake in the firm until the completion of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. This move by Genesis is aimed at securing vital tax benefits, which hinge on its continued status within the tax-consolidated group of which DCG is the common parent. Genesis Battles to Preserve $700M Tax Benefit in Reorganization...

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Anatoly Legkodymov, the co-founder of Bitzlato, a Hong Kong-registered virtual currency exchange, has entered a guilty plea for money laundering charges. Initially arrested in Florida, Legkodymov’s case was transferred to New York. Bitzlato Founder Pleads Guilty In a press release dated December 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) disclosed that Legkodymov is responsible for “transporting...