Charlene Lensburg | FinTelegram News

Author: Charlene Lensburg

CFTC

April 22, 2025

Despite New Crypto Friendlyness: No Settlement Between U.S. CFTC And KuCoin?

A planned settlement between the U.S.CFTC and crypto exchange KuCoin is now in limbo due to a reported policy shift within the CFTC. This change is attributed to the Trump administration’s new approach, which deprioritizes enforcement actions against crypto companies. As a result, a CFTC attorney said that it is "unlikely that such authorization will be granted in the near term" regarding the settlement approval.

April 21, 2025

Startup on Trial: Celsius Network and Alex Mashinsky – When Deception Dressed Up as DeFi Innovation!

Celsius Network promised financial freedom through crypto, only to collapse into one of the most catastrophic failures in the DeFi sector. Founder Alex Mashinsky portrayed himself as the champion of the unbanked—yet behind the scenes, Celsius engaged in reckless trading strategies, misled customers, and operated more like a hedge fund than a lending platform.

April 21, 2025

Startup on Trial: Binance and CZ – The Global Crypto Empire That Played by Its Own Rules

Binance, once celebrated as the world’s largest crypto exchange, fell from regulatory grace when founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in 2023. This case highlights how a tech behemoth grew rapidly by navigating around regulatory frameworks—and how global regulators, once slow to respond, eventually brought the empire to heel.

April 14, 2025

FinTelegram Launches New Series: “Startup on Trial” – When Innovation Clashes With the Law

FinTelegram is proud to announce the launch of its latest investigative series: “Startup on Trial” – a deep dive into some of the most high-profile legal, regulatory, and ethical failures in the tech startup ecosystem. This series examines the point at which innovation, ambition, and disruption collide with hard legal realities.

April 14, 2025

DeFi at a Crossroads: Legal Battles and Regulatory Overhauls Threaten the Future of Decentralized Finance

The Decentralized Finance (DeFi) sector faces escalating regulatory scrutiny, with recent cases highlighting tensions between innovation and compliance. While frameworks like MiCA (EU) and U.S. tax rules aim to standardize oversight, they also risk undermining decentralization. Investors must navigate risks like operational disruptions and compliance costs.

Politics

April 5, 2025

TRUMP’S TARIFF TANTRUM: GOLDEN AGE OR ECONOMIC SUICIDE MISSION?

Donald Trump has detonated the global economy’s pressure valve with a nuclear-grade tariff blitz that could ignite the mother of all trade wars. From a flat 10% tariff on all imports to retaliatory rates up to 54%, Trump’s “America First” crusade is either a path to national revival or a kamikaze mission against the global supply chain. While Trump touts a new golden age, markets are bleeding, allies are fuming.

April 2, 2025

EFRI Declares War on Financial Crime Facilitators with New EU Mandate

The European Funds Recovery Initiative (EFRI) has reached a new milestone in the fight against cybercrime and financial fraud. Effective March 31, 2025, EFRI has been recognized as a Qualified Entity (QE) under Directive (EU) 2020/1828 by Austrian authorities—empowering it to file collective redress actions across the European Union. This is more than a legal upgrade.

Crypto Compliance

March 31, 2025

Investor Briefing: Is the Swiss crypto bank Amina in trouble?

AMINA Bank AG is a Swiss-based crypto bank headquartered in Zug. Established in 2018, it was one of the first banks globally to receive a banking and securities dealer license from the Swiss FINMA in 2019. The bank specializes in bridging traditional and digital assets, offering services such as asset management, custody solutions, and banking for blockchain companies.

March 26, 2025

Corruption’s Dark Legacy: Lessons from the Grasser Case and Beyond!

The Austrian Supreme Court has delivered its remarkable verdict in the high-profile corruption case involving former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser, marking a significant moment in Austria's legal history. The court upheld the initial conviction but reduced Grasser's sentence from eight to four years in prison, citing the prolonged duration of the legal proceedings.

March 25, 2025

Anne Wojcicki and her 23andMe: The Bankruptcy Explained in a Nutshell

Anne Wojcicki, 52, in Palo Alto, California, is part of the US tech elite and is known for co-founding the personal genomics company 23andMe in 2006. She named the company after the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a human cell. The company experienced significant growth, reaching a peak valuation of over $6 billion after going public in 2021. Over the last weekend, the company filed for bankruptcy.

March 24, 2025

Financial Intelligence Report: Lykke Exchange Collapse

Swiss crypto exchange Lykke has collapsed following a major security breach in June 2024, resulting in the loss of approximately $22 million in customer funds. The incident led to the suspension of trading activities, bankruptcy proceedings, and significant financial losses for investors. This report analyzes the events leading to Lykke's downfall, the impact on stakeholders, and the ongoing legal actions.

March 21, 2025

FinTelegram Investor Briefing: Garantex Reemerges as Grinex Amid Sanction Evasion

Sanctioned Russian crypto exchange Garantex has allegedly relaunched under the brand Grinex, according to a March 2025 report by Swiss blockchain analytics firm Global Ledger. The rebranded platform is linked to Garantex through on-chain and off-chain evidence, including liquidity transfers, shared infrastructure, and operational patterns.

Despite New Crypto Friendlyness: No Settlement Between U.S. CFTC And KuCoin?

SEC’s New Era: Paul Atkins Sworn In—Will Crypto Finally Get the Regulatory Clarity It Deserves?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has entered a new chapter with the swearing-in of Paul S. Atkins as its 34th Chairman, a move widely anticipated to mark a dramatic pivot in how the agency approaches crypto and DeFi regulation. For years, the financial industry—especially the burgeoning digital asset sector—has bristled under the SEC’s “Regulation by Enforcement” strategy.

Crypto Mogul Changpeng Zhao – Fallen, Rich, and Rising Again?

As spring 2025 blooms and Easter’s themes of rebirth fill the air, Changpeng Zhao emerges as one of the most controversial figures of startup mythology: a man who fell spectacularly, paid a price—then rose again, wealthier and louder than ever. Once the almighty architect of Binance, CZ now resides in Dubai with a net worth that Forbes estimates at $63 billion.

Prison Update: Sam Bankman-Fried Transferred to Low-Security Federal Prison in Los Angeles!

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has been transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island in Los Angeles, California. This low-security facility is known for housing non-violent offenders and has previously held notable inmates such as Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, former COO of Theranos.