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Seychelles Law Enforcement Receives Request to Probe Transfer of 230K Onecoin Bitcoins

The Seychelles Police Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) recently confirmed receiving a request for an investigation into several transactions linked to the transfer of 230,000 bitcoins. The cryptocurrency is said to be associated with pyramid scam Onecoin.

Onecoin Loot in Dubai

Besides investigating the transfer of the crypto assets, the probe is expected to examine transactions involving cash and property worth $10 billion. According to the Seychelles News Agency, the FCIU’s receipt of the request for an investigation follows the recent discovery of “up to $500 million of Onecoin loot in Dubai bank accounts.”

This discovery prompted victims of the pyramid scheme to file claims against Onecoin in London, Dublin, and Brussels. Meanwhile, the same Seychelles News Agency report quotes Tania Potter, the FCIU’s head of legal affairs, explaining the steps the agency plans to take before making a decision. Potter explained:

The unit has received quite a number of documents, as part of the complaint, some of which need to undergo a verification process to identify any links to Seychelles and upon completion, a decision on the next step will be taken.

According to Potter, once this process is complete, the FCU will proceed to inform the Onecoin victims.

Problems Encountered When Investigating Crypto Crimes

In the same report, Potter is quoted outlining the difficulties law enforcement agencies often encounter when attempting to investigate crimes that are committed outside Seychelles by business organizations headquartered in the tiny island nation.

“We see that the people who have been defrauded have invested on a platform or with an International Business Company. IBC has a registered agent in Seychelles, transactions however do not happen here so it is difficult for us to go after the person who has facilitated or committed the crime,” she said.

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Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Belish

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Vote postponed to renominate SEC commissioner Caroline Crenshaw

Senate Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown called it a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw” The vote was postponed minutes before it was due to begin by Brown No date has been set for Crenshaw’s renomination A US Senate vote to renominate Democrat Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been…


US SEC Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga to resign in January

  • Senate Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown called it a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw”
  • The vote was postponed minutes before it was due to begin by Brown
  • No date has been set for Crenshaw’s renomination

A US Senate vote to renominate Democrat Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been postponed.

The vote was originally scheduled on December 11; however, it was postponed minutes before it was due to begin, reports Bloomberg. Sherrod Brown, the Senate Banking Committee chair, delayed the vote. When Brown requested the vote occur later that day, Republican senators blocked his request.

Brown later released a statement saying that corporate special interests are running a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw.”

No date has been set for her renomination.

Earlier this week, crypto and blockchain advocacy groups voiced their opposition to Crenshaw’s renomination.

In a letter to Brown and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott, the Blockchain Association and the DeFi Education Fund argued that Crenshaw’s actions have undermined Congress’s mandate to establish clear regulatory policies for the crypto industry.

In their letter, they mention Crenshaw’s “continued opposition to the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETP.”

Following the news of Crenshaw’s reappointment, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, took to X to say: “She tried to block the Bitcoin ETFs, and was worse than Gensler on some issues (which I didn’t think was possible).”

A Republican-majority SEC?

The delay to Crenshaw’s renomination opens up the possibility of a three-person Republican SEC once Donald Trump enters the White House in January. Crenshaw’s term at the SEC officially ended in June; however, if she’s renominated she would be the only Democratic SEC commissioner.

The SEC can make up to five commissioners, but no more than three can form the same political party. Current SEC chair Gary Gensler, a Democrat, is stepping down on January 20, and SEC Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga, also a Democrat, will step down on January 17.

Last week, Trump nominated pro-crypto Paul Atkins, a Republican, as chair of the SEC.

Including Gensler and Lizárraga, the three remaining SEC commissioners include Republicans Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda.


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Australia fines Kraken operator $5 million for non-compliance

Kraken operator in Australia Bit Trade will pay a $5.1 million fine for non-compliance with regulatory requirements. The Australian Securities and Investment Commission accused the crypto platform of offering a credit facilty that did not comply with regulations. Kraken crypto exchange’s Australian operator firm has been slapped with a AU$8 million ($5.1 million) fine for…


Kraken shutting down its NFT marketplace just a year after its launch

  • Kraken operator in Australia Bit Trade will pay a $5.1 million fine for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • The Australian Securities and Investment Commission accused the crypto platform of offering a credit facilty that did not comply with regulations.

Kraken crypto exchange’s Australian operator firm has been slapped with a AU$8 million ($5.1 million) fine for non-compliance with Australian regulations.

The Australian federal court fined Bit Trade following a lawsuit by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. In its order, the court said that the Kraken crypto exchange operator must comply with the country’s crypto regulations.

The court ordered that the exchange ought to pay 8 million Australian dollars as a penalty for non-compliance with the local regulations. Notably, Kraken recently announced a licensed broker offering for clients in Australia.

Bit Trade failed to comply with regulations

In August this year, the court ruled in favour of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. The regulator had filed a case accusing Bit Trade of issuing a credit facility without following the legal proceedings.

ASIC argued that Bit Trade did not make the target market determination, a requirement to protect investors. Between October 2021 and August 2023, ASIC stated that the firm offered a margin extension to 1,100 users which cost them a loss of over $5.2 million without following the legal requirements.

The market regulator’s demand was Bit Trade to pay a fine worth 20 million Australian dollars. On their argument, Bit Trade put their limit to a maximum of four million Australian dollars. The penalty follows these proceedings, and the Kraken operator in Australia has 60 days to comply with the order.

In addition, the firm would cover for all the commissions court proceedings costs.

Kraken has faced regulatory hurdles in the US too, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), suing the exchange earlier in November 2023.

SEC’s allegations include Kraken offering of unregistered activities and operating as an unregistered broker. In August 2024, a US court denied the exchange’s motion that sought to dismiss the SEC’s lawsuit.


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Saylor and Bukele Discuss How El Salvador Can Accelerate Global Bitcoin Adoption

Michael Saylor has met with Salvadoran President Bukele to discuss accelerating global bitcoin adoption as El Salvador strengthens its position, continuing to accumulate bitcoin despite IMF-driven policy adjustments. Michael Saylor Meets Nayib Bukele to Discuss Bitcoin Strategy Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Microstrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR), met with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on Feb…
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