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Fintech CEO: BitMEX Exec’s Surrender Won’t Be Last, as Chickens Come Home to Roost

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3 years ago

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Recent reports note BitMEX co-founder Benjamin Delo has surrendered to authorities after he was charged with helping the company evade AML regulations.

Delo pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. The exchange allowed users to leverage up to 10000% their BTC position, making it popular among speculators.

“What we’re seeing here with BitMEX… it won’t be the last exchange to get hit with AML & KYC violations. Part of that is because some operators intentionally flout the laws. Another part can be traced to technological implementation,” noted Richard Gardner, CEO of Modulus, a US-based developer of ultra-high-performance trading and surveillance technology that powers global equities, derivatives, and digital asset exchanges.

“Many of these exchanges were created using technologies that are antiquated or not well designed for the rigors of regulation. Instead of investing in the proper tools and legal advice to stay well ahead of the law, many exchanges decided to shoestring it, buy inferior technology, and move ahead without fully understanding the risk. Now, those chickens are coming home to roost.”

“During the bull run on cryptocurrency several years back, new operators were itching to get into the game fast. They didn’t have the time to develop their own technology, and they didn’t have the money to pay for quality exchange software that had been tried and true for decades. So, they bought into new white-label software providers that didn’t have any experience building exchanges. Without experience in the space, they never really considered what would happen once regulators caught up with the innovation, and their clients didn’t know enough to ask,” noted Gardner.

“Cryptocurrency exchanges are so complex because they’re regulated so differently across the globe. Planning to be compliant in one country isn’t enough to make you compliant in the next. We’ve always designed software to be compliant in the most restrictive jurisdictions, as well as plan for where they will be in five years’ time. That’s not always possible, as regulators can be reactionary in implementation, but it is the goal. The lowest hanging compliance fruit is being on top of AML & KYL regulations. Exchanges can use geofencing to help ensure compliance. When you’ve decided that you’re going to invest in compliance, there are so many tools available to make sure it is done correctly, so that you don’t end up like the BitMEX co-founders,” explained Gardner.

Modulus is known throughout the financial technology segment as a leader in the development of ultra-high frequency trading systems and blockchain technologies. Several years back, the company launched the Modulus Market Surveillance & Risk Management System, which provides clients with actionable alerts identifying market manipulation, abusive trading behavior, and money laundering to ensure adherence to regulatory guidelines and rules that govern trading conduct.

“We, at Modulus, have always been intent on limiting client risk, and that starts with ensuring their technology stack is compliant with the latest rules and regulations. So many crypto-preneurs see compliance as a cost, but, in truth, it can be the difference between operating profitably and not operating at all,” noted Gardner.

Over the past twenty years, the company has built technology for the world’s most notable exchanges, with a client list which includes NASDAQ, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Barclays, Siemens, Shell, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Cornell University, and the University of Chicago.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Cryptocurrency

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, NEAR Protocol Soar 5%-10% in Cryptocurrency Rebound

Published

3 days ago

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May 4, 2024

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Dogecoin- Investors King

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and NEAR Protocol have seen impressive gains ranging from 5% to 10%, igniting optimism among investors after a period of volatility.

Dogecoin, the meme-inspired digital currency, surged by 5% to add to its recent momentum while Shiba Inu, another popular meme coin, followed suit with a 10% jump.

NEAR Protocol, a blockchain platform focusing on decentralized applications, also joined the rally with a solid 5% increase.

This surge comes on the heels of Bitcoin’s resurgence, which saw a nearly 5% gain to briefly break the $62,000 price level.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, reclaimed the $3,000 level, further bolstering confidence in the market.

The rally was spurred by the release of the U.S. April jobs report, which showed the addition of 175,000 jobs, falling short of the expected 245,000.

This unexpected development eased concerns about higher interest rates, prompting a positive response from cryptocurrency investors.

Market analysts pointed out that the softer-than-expected jobs data led to an increase in the likelihood of at least one rate cut by September, according to CME FedWatch data.

This dovish sentiment, coupled with the Federal Reserve’s indication of no immediate interest in cutting rates, contributed to a more favorable environment for cryptocurrencies.

Moreover, Coinbase analysts highlighted the recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, where policymakers tapered the pace of the central bank’s balance sheet runoff, signaling a more dovish stance.

This move was interpreted as a positive signal for both fiat and cryptocurrency markets.

Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, expressed confidence in Bitcoin’s recent performance, suggesting that it may have bottomed out at $56,000.

However, he cautioned investors to expect a gradual recovery rather than a swift ascent to previous highs.

Hayes forecasted a period of range-bound price action between $60,000 and $70,000 until August.

As the cryptocurrency market continues to navigate through fluctuations, the recent rebound in Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and NEAR Protocol reflects a renewed sense of optimism among traders, fueled by positive developments in the broader financial landscape.

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Binance Boss Behind Bars: CZ Sentenced to Four Months for Crypto Exchange Failures

Published

6 days ago

on

May 1, 2024

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Binance CEO

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, has been sentenced to four months in prison for his role in security failures that enabled cybercriminals and terrorist groups to exploit the Binance platform.

The verdict, delivered by US District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle, is the first time a chief executive officer of a major cryptocurrency exchange has been incarcerated for breaching banking secrecy laws.

The courtroom, packed with onlookers and CZ’s legal team, witnessed the billionaire entrepreneur, clad in a dark suit and light blue tie, receive his sentence stoically.

Despite fervent pleas from prosecutors for a three-year sentence to set a precedent in the crypto industry, Judge Jones opted for a shorter term.

In his statement, Judge Jones emphasized that no individual, regardless of wealth or status, is exempt from accountability under the law.

The case against CZ stemmed from a protracted investigation by the US Department of Justice, casting a long shadow over Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and its high-profile leader.

Prosecutors argued that CZ’s failure to implement adequate money laundering safeguards facilitated illicit transactions, enabling cybercriminals and even terrorist groups like Hamas to operate freely on the platform.

The sentencing also comes on the heels of similar crackdowns within the cryptocurrency space, including the recent conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried, a former crypto titan who received a 25-year prison sentence for defrauding FTX customers of billions of dollars.

CZ’s defense team, however, contended that he should be spared imprisonment due to his non-US citizenship, which they argued put him at heightened risk in a US detention facility.

Nevertheless, Judge Jones emphasized the gravity of CZ’s offenses, terming them “unprecedented” in scale and impact.

In a post-sentencing statement on social media, CZ expressed acceptance of his fate, vowing to “do his time” and focus on education and philanthropy upon his release.

Despite his impending incarceration, CZ affirmed his commitment to the cryptocurrency sector as a passive investor.

The implications of CZ’s sentencing extend beyond his personal fate, raising questions about regulatory oversight and accountability within the burgeoning crypto industry.

Federal prosecutor Kevin Mosley underscored the deliberate nature of CZ’s violations, arguing that they were not mere oversights but intentional breaches of US law.

As CZ prepares to serve his prison term at Seattle’s Federal Detention Center, SeaTac, the crypto community grapples with the repercussions of his downfall.

The episode serves as a stark reminder that, despite the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrencies, regulatory scrutiny and legal accountability remain paramount in an increasingly interconnected financial landscape.

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Cryptocurrency

U.S. Prosecutors Recommend 36-Month Prison Term for Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 24, 2024

By

Binance CEO

In a significant development in the legal saga surrounding Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, U.S. prosecutors have recommended a 36-month prison term for its founder, Changpeng Zhao.

The recommendation follows Zhao’s guilty plea to violating laws against money laundering, a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle between Binance and U.S. authorities.

Zhao, commonly known as CZ, stepped down as Binance’s chief last November, simultaneously admitting to the violations alongside the exchange.

The firm agreed to a hefty penalty of $4.32 billion as part of the settlement with prosecutors.

According to court filings submitted to the U.S. district court for the western district of Washington, prosecutors argued that the magnitude of Zhao’s willful violation of U.S. law warranted an above-guidelines sentence.

While federal sentencing guidelines set a maximum term of 18 months in prison for Zhao, prosecutors emphasized the severity of the violations and their consequences in advocating for the extended sentence.

The legal scrutiny surrounding Binance stems from allegations that the exchange failed to report over 100,000 suspicious transactions involving designated terrorist groups such as Hamas, al Qaeda, and ISIS.

Furthermore, prosecutors alleged that Binance’s platform facilitated the sale of child sexual abuse materials and served as a recipient of a significant portion of ransomware proceeds.

As part of the settlement, Zhao agreed to pay a $50 million fine and disengage from any involvement with Binance, the platform he founded in 2017.

The penalties imposed on Binance included a staggering $1.81 billion criminal fine and restitution of $2.51 billion.

The recommendation for a 36-month prison term underscores the seriousness with which U.S. authorities are addressing violations within the cryptocurrency industry.

The outcome of Zhao’s sentencing, scheduled for April 30 in Seattle, will likely have far-reaching implications for both Binance and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders across the industry are closely monitoring developments to gauge their impact on the future of cryptocurrency exchanges and their founders.

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