CRYPTOCURRENCY
SEC Seeks $5.3B Judgment Against Terraform Labs and Do Kwon
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a motion for billions of dollars in disgorgement and civil penalties against Terraform Labs and co-founder Do Kwon. The SEC is seeking $4.7 billion in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, along with $520 million in civil penalties. Terraform and Kwon have proposed lower penalties, and the SEC is also considering additional measures to prevent future violations.
Cyprus Tightens Crypto Regulations with Hefty Penalties for Non-Compliance
Cyprus is tightening its cryptocurrency regulations by introducing hefty penalties for non-compliance. The government aims to align with international AML/CFT standards and has submitted a legislative amendment for review. All crypto service providers must register with CySEC, facing fines or imprisonment for non-compliance.
5 Charged for Hydro Token Market Manipulation
The US Department of Justice has charged five individuals for conspiring to manipulate the market in relation to an alleged scheme involving the Hydro (HYDRO) token. The charges include conspiracy to commit securities price manipulation and wire fraud, with potential penalties ranging from five years to 20 years in prison. The alleged manipulation of the Hydro token price resulted in the co-conspirators making an approximate total of $2 million in ill-gotten profits. In addition, Hydrogen Technology Corporation and former CEO Michael Ross Kane were ordered to pay $2.8 million in remedies and civil penalties in a separate case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
US CFTC Rounded Up Over $1.3B in Regulatory Penalties in 2019, 40% More Than the Previous Year
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the derivatives regulator in the US has collected over $1.3 billion in regulatory and administrative penalties in the fiscal year of 2019, including funds collected from cryptocurrency businesses, which ended on Sept. 30.