Crypto Schemes | FinTelegram News

Category: Crypto Schemes

November 15, 2024

Picci on the Red Carpet: Does Bitpanda CEO Eric Demuth’s Dog Signal a Leadership Crisis?

Bitpanda CEO Eric Demuth’s dog, Picci, takes center stage at corporate events. Does this quirky branding align with the gravitas needed for a €3-4 billion crypto giant preparing for an IPO? Alt Text for Images: Eric Demuth at a corporate event with his dog Picci, raising questions about leadership optics and professionalism at Bitpanda.

November 15, 2024

FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang Assists US Government in Fraud Detection, Awaits Sentencing

Gary Wang, FTX’s former coding chief and co-founder, has been praised by prosecutors for his “outstanding” assistance in building the case against Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). Scheduled for sentencing on November 20, Wang has developed tools to help the US government identify fraud in cryptocurrency and stock markets, a factor prosecutors urge the court to consider for leniency.

November 11, 2024

Crypto Crime: Bitcoin Fog Operator Sentenced to 12-Year Prison Term for Darknet Money Laundering!

Roman Sterlingov, dual Russian-Swedish national and operator of Bitcoin Fog, sentenced to over 12 years in prison for running the darknet’s longest-lasting bitcoin mixer, laundering over $400 million in criminal proceeds. A jury found Sterlingov guilty of money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and money transmission without a license.

November 6, 2024

FTX Pursues $98.8 Million Recovery from Ex-Chief Ryan Salame

FTX Trading Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Salame, former head of FTX Digital Markets, seeking the recovery of $98.8 million allegedly misappropriated in the lead-up to the exchange's collapse. Accusations against Salame include using customer funds to finance a lavish lifestyle and political contributions. He was sentenced to 7.5 years (90 months) in prison for his role in the FTX scandal.

October 29, 2024

Bankrupt Crypto Exchange FTX Settles Suit Against Crypto Firm Bybit for $228 Million!

The legal dispute between the collapsed U.S. crypto exchange FTX and Dubai-based Bybit has recently reached a significant milestone with a settlement agreement worth $228 million. Here's an overview of the background, context, and latest developments. The settlement comes just in time for the expected bull run in the crypto segment.

October 20, 2024

U.S. Court Sentenced Indian National to 60-Months in Prison For $20M Crypto Fraud Scheme!

On Dec 20, 2023, Indian national Chirag Tomar was arrested at the Atlanta airport over charges of stealing more than $20 million from hundreds of victims through the use of fake or “spoofed” websites mimicking the crypto exchange website Coinbase. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Tomar used the victims’ funds to pay for his lavish lifestyle.

Crypto Schemes

October 14, 2024

Hong Kong Crypto Swindler Tied to Singapore Money Laundering Syndicate

A recent investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has uncovered a connection between the alleged Hong Kong-based crypto fraudster Su Weiyi and a sophisticated money laundering syndicate operating in Singapore. Hong Kong police have called Su Weiyi the “mastermind” behind Atom Asset Exchange (AAX), which had more than two million users before collapsing in 2022.

October 10, 2024

Gotbit and Russian Executives Charged by U.S. DOJ and SEC for Crypto Market Manipulation!

Gotbit Consulting LLC, along with its Russian executives, has been charged by the U.S. DOJ and SEC for its role in a widespread market manipulation scheme. By using wash trades, Gotbit inflated crypto asset prices and volumes, deceiving investors and raising millions in illicit profits. The company’s fraudulent activities were executed across multiple jurisdictions, with key figures now facing extradition and prosecution.

October 6, 2024

Crypto MLM Scam: David Carmona Sentenced to 121 Months for IcomTech Crypto Ponzi Scheme!

iComTech was one of the numerous fraudulent MLM schemes that used cryptocurrencies as a means of fraud in parallel with the crypto hype of 2017/18. David Carmora started IcomTech in approximately 2018 with other co-conspirators as a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company. The scheme promised to earn its victims high profits and guaranteed daily returns that would double their money within six months.

September 27, 2024

Tornado Cash: Court Case Raises Tensions Between Financial Privacy and Regulation! Co-Founder Faces Trial!

In August 2022, the U.S. OFAC sanctioned the Russian cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash. The Tornado Cash case is a pivotal moment in the legal battle over privacy rights in cryptocurrency. The outcome could shape future regulations on privacy-focused platforms, setting a critical precedent for balancing financial privacy with government oversight in digital assets.

September 27, 2024

Plaintiffs Lawyers of FTX Clients Lawyers Settle Feud With FTX Estate!

FTX was a major U.S. crypto exchange that collapsed in November 2022 amid allegations of fraud and misuse of customer funds. Plaintiffs' lawyers in the FTX litigation in Miami federal court have reached a deal with lawyers for the bankrupt company, resolving a fight that erupted earlier this year over who owns the right to sue on behalf of customers of the crypto exchange.

September 25, 2024

Caroline Ellison Sentenced to Two Years for Role in FTX, The ‘Greatest Financial Fraud’ In U.S. History!

Caroline Ellison, 29, a central figure in the scandal around the collapsed U.S. crypto exchange FTX, has been sentenced to two years in prison despite her substantial cooperation with prosecutors. The former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has received a 25-year prison time. Her case emphasizes that even those who assist law enforcement may still face incarceration in cases involving large-scale fraud.

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.

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.

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.