Monat: November 2024

• South Korea’s FIU investigating Upbit for failing to verify 500,000–600,000 accounts properly.
• Upbit could face billions in fines for KYC violations under South Korea’s laws.
• The exchange’s license renewal is delayed as the FIU scrutinizes possible illegal activity.

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is probing cryptocurrency exchange Upbit for what may become one of the largest Know Your Customer (KYC) scandals in the history of the industry.

The investigation centres on up to 600,000 accounts that allegedly failed to undergo proper verification procedures.

These breaches were uncovered during a routine review of Upbit’s business license renewal, which has now become anything but routine.

Accounts without proper identification documents

The FIU’s extensive review, which began in late August, uncovered serious flaws in the exchange’s account verification system. Authorities found that many accounts were opened with unclear or improperly submitted identification documents.

In some cases, critical details such as names and registration numbers were impossible to verify.

South Korea mandates strict KYC checks to prevent criminal activity, including money laundering, within the crypto market. Without proper identity verification, these accounts could have easily been exploited for illicit purposes.

Upbit risks penalties of up to billions of won

If the allegations are confirmed, Upbit, one of the 23 South Korean Exchanges that came together for self-regulation in 2023, could face massive penalties.

Under South Korea’s Special Financial Transaction Information Act, each violation could result in fines of up to 100 million won (approximately $75,000).

With potentially 500,000 to 600,000 affected accounts according to local sources familiar with the issue, the total fines could soar into the billions of won, marking a significant blow to the exchange and the broader crypto industry.

The fallout from these violations has already delayed Upbit’s license renewal process indefinitely. Typically a routine procedure for crypto exchanges every three years, the review is now mired in uncertainty as the FIU meticulously examines each flagged account for possible illegal activity.

In the meantime, Upbit has remained tight-lipped about the investigation, citing legal restrictions on sharing details. However, the company’s vague statements have only fueled concerns about the severity of the breaches and whether they could be linked to money laundering.

As the investigation continues, the crypto world watches closely, awaiting the potential consequences of what could become a landmark case in KYC and anti-money laundering enforcement.

The post FIU investing Upbit for what could be the largest KYC scandals in crypto history appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Plaintiffs have dropped their appeal in the Dogecoin lawsuit against Elon Musk.
• Judge Hellerstein in August ruled Musk’s public statements weren’t grounds for fraud claims.
• Both parties have withdrawn motions for sanctions.

Investors who had sued Elon Musk and his company Tesla for manipulating the cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) have withdrawn their appeal.

This marks the conclusion of a case that originally sought $258 billion in damages and centred on allegations of fraud and insider trading.

The Dogecoin lawsuit was dismissed in August

The lawsuit, filed by Dogecoin investors, claimed that Musk had used his influential public platform to artificially inflate the price of Dogecoin for personal gain. The investors pointed to his tweets, public appearances, and even an appearance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” as evidence of a pattern of market manipulation.

The investors argued that these activities were timed to boost Dogecoin’s value, allowing Musk to profit at their expense.

However, on August 29, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed the case, stating that reasonable investors could not establish claims of securities fraud based solely on Musk’s public statements.

The judge reasoned that comments such as Musk’s assertion that Dogecoin was the “future currency of Earth” or could be “floated to the moon” by SpaceX were not credible grounds for claims of insider trading or fraud.

Following the dismissal, the investors filed an appeal and sought sanctions against Musk’s legal team, accusing them of misconduct. In response, Musk and Tesla filed their own motion to sanction the investors’ lawyers for pursuing what they labelled as a “frivolous” and constantly shifting lawsuit.

Appeal withdrawn, awaiting court approval

This week, both parties agreed to withdraw their respective motions and filed a stipulation to dismiss the case in Manhattan federal court. The withdrawal also included the investors’ request to drop sanctions against Musk’s lawyers.

The final resolution of the case now awaits formal approval by Judge Hellerstein.

This lawsuit’s end comes as Musk continues to wield considerable influence over the cryptocurrency world, which has seen volatility sparked by Donald Trump’s reelection as the 47^th US president.

Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X, has often been at the centre of both support and controversy surrounding cryptocurrencies, notably Dogecoin.

The post Investors withdraw appeal in Dogecoin lawsuit against Elon Musk appeared first on CoinJournal.