• CFTC investigating Binance
    Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao says the exchange actively prohibits U.S. customers (Photo: Binance)
    Cryptocurrencies,  Regulation

    CFTC investigating Binance for American crypto customers: Report

    The enforcement agency may be investigating whether the No. 1 cryptocurrency exchange still serves American clients, despite claims that it does not

    March 12, 2021 /

    Binance began kicking U.S. customers off its platform in November—even though it had closed its platform to Americans on June 14, 2019—after setting up the independent exchange Binance.US in the country. At the time, Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said Binance.US would “bring the security, speed, and liquidity of Binance.com to North America,” in full regulatory compliance with all U.S. laws.

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  • BitMEX completes user verification
    BitMEX CEO Alexander Höptner has completed the exchange's AML program (Photo: 100x Group)
    Regulation

    In wake of indictments, BitMEX completes user verification program

    The cryptocurrency derivatives exchange began putting an anti-money-laundering program in place for all of its users following the indictment of several executives, including former CEO Arthur Hayes

    January 7, 2021 /

    The Seychelles-based exchange has been under severe pressure since the Oct. 1 indictment, when the four executives were charged with violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to put an acceptable user identity verification program in place.

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  • Oyster Protocol exit scammer arrested
    A nice life... while it lasted (Photo: Pixabay/Lisa Larsen)
    Alt coins,  Regulation

    Oyster Protocol founder arrested for exit scam, tax evasion

    The U.S. Securities and Exchanges Commission brought separate civil charges against Amir Bruno Elmaani for failing to register his Oyster Pearl tokens as securities

    December 10, 2020 /

    Crypto-powered data storage platform Oyster Protocol was an exit scam that brought founder Amir Bruno Elmaani—also known as Bruno Block—a lavish lifestyle featuring several yachts, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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  • Alexander Höptner CEO BitMEX
    Alexander Höptner is taking over BitMEX as it struggles to appease regulators (Photo: 100x Group)
    Cryptocurrencies,  Regulation

    In wake of indictments, BitMEX operator appoints former Börse Stuttgart exec as CEO

    Alexander Höptner led Börse Stuttgart as the firm reportedly became European Union’s first traditional exchange operator to become a regulated crypto multilateral trading facility

    December 1, 2020 /

    Höptner led Börse Stuttgart as the firm started offering regulated cryptocurrency trading services inside the European Union, from Germany. The company said it was the European Union's first traditional exchange operator to become a regulated crypto multilateral trading facility.

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