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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) looks to be gearing up for a new chapter in its regulatory approach to the cryptocurrency industry. Following years of enforcement-based rules, the SEC is currently scheduled to convene a “Spring Sprint Towards Crypto Clarity” roundtable conference. The event is scheduled to take place over five sessions, with the first meeting on March 21, which will discuss defining securities in the crypto space. 🚨SCOOP: The @SECGov Crypto Task Force is getting ready to hold a series of roundtables with industry participants entitled “Spring Sprint Towards Crypto Clarity,” two people familiar with the matter tell me. The first of the five planned roundtables will be held on March 21 at… — Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) February 28, 2025 Although the SEC was once known for being forceful in bringing crypto companies to justice, its strategy now seems to be more receptive to conversation. Besides that, the SEC has stopped looking at numerous big corporations in the sector recently. As previously mentioned in our report , Gemini was at last cleared from a 699-day probe free from additional legal action. Furthermore, closed without any legal action were investigations into OpenSea , Robinhood, and Uniswap. More shockingly, the SEC even dropped its action against Coinbase, seen as one of the most important rulings in the conflict between authorities and the crypto sector. Under pressure from several groups seeking regulatory clarification without always ending up in court, the actions have spurred conjecture that there is a change in strategy inside the SEC. On the other hand, the SEC suffered yet another blow when a federal court dismissed its lawsuit against Hex founder Richard Heart. The SEC charged Heart with running an illicit crypto offering and defrauding investors of $12.1 million, used to purchase luxury items including the biggest black diamond in the world. Judge Carol Bagley Amon in Brooklyn, however, dismissed the case because Heart’s activities lacked sufficient legal link to US jurisdiction. The ruling reflects yet another SEC loss in its attempts to tighten control via legal methods. In another move, the SEC has at last offered new direction on the legal status of meme coins—a subset of tokens sometimes dismissed as a joke or internet craze. In its statement, the SEC underlined that as meme coins offer neither a return, ownership rights, nor representation of future income, they do not satisfy the requirements for securities. Stated differently, assets like Shiba Inu or Dogecoin are more like digital collectibles whose value is just dependent on market demand and speculation. For community-driven initiatives long threatened by the SEC, this choice could be considered as an uplifting moment. On the other hand, a major issue still stands: Should meme coins fall outside the securities category, does this create access to more speculative tokens that would endanger inexperienced investors? Alternatively, is this a hint that the SEC is beginning to choose its fights more deliberately?

Crypto derivatives platform BitMEX is on sale, according to sources familiar with the matter. Reports that the trading platform is seeking a buyer claim that BitMEX has enlisted the services of Broadhaven Capital Partners to help seal a deal. Broadhaven Capital Partners is an investment banking provider that offers strategic and financial services solutions. According to sources, BitMEX is eyeing Broadhaven Capital’s input to get a buyer, per crypto publication CoinDesk, which reported on this development on Thursday, Feb. 27. Two people privy to the plans, the report stated, say BitMEX appointed Broadhaven Capital Partners in late 2024. While BitMEX, founded in 2014, reportedly looks for a new owner, a number of other deals in the space suggests rivals are bidding for further dominance. Some of the top merger and acquisition developments in the space include the tug of war between Coinbase and Kraken for the right to takeover derivatives platform Deribit . Deribit is the world’s leading trading platform for Bitcoin ( BTC ) and Ethereum ( ETH ) options. The Dubai-based platform has recently revealed its plans to expand its services and products to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the quest for traction in the derivatives market has seen prime brokerage firm FalconX snap up trading firm Arbelos Markets. FalconX’s deal for the platform earlier this year is part of the company’s expansion in the derivatives market. Reports of BitMEX’s plans for a buyer come just over a month after a U.S. judge ordered the exchange to pay a $100 million fine over anti-money laundering violations. The exchange and its founders pleaded guilty to the charges in 2022 and had paid another $110 million. Another guilty plea came in July 2024. Charges stem from a 2020 indictment that saw Arthur Hayes resign as chief executive officer of BitMEX. The U.S. Department of Justice had filed criminal charges against Hayes and his BitMEX co-founders Ben Delo and Samuel Reed. Authorities alleged the derivatives platform has ignored anti-money laundering laws in the pursuit of revenue.

Tron founder Justin Sun has scored a legal victory in a major defamation lawsuit against Sina. On December 31, 2024, The Beijing Internet Court determined that Sina’s earlier claims of insider trading and federal investigations were incorrect and defamatory in nature. After the court’s verdict, Sina issued a public apology on February 7, 2025. They also formally decided against an appeal on February 26, 2025. The media giant has since paid Sun RMB 31,338 in damages, concluding the six-year legal dispute. Sun, the founder of Tron, welcomed the outcome. He pointed out that this ruling establishes a legal precedent against misinformation in the crypto industry. In his post, Sun stated, “The fundamental reason this case took so long was the sheer volume of rumors spread about me. This verdict proves that all allegations against me were false.” He further highlighted how widespread misinformation can affect public perception. He added that his daily efforts aim to challenge biases and encourage positive change in the industry. Related: HTX Hints at Justin Sun & Trump Crypto Ties in Cryptic Post In the English translation, he stated, ” My daily work is to change these prejudices, change our industry, and change the world to make it beautiful and kind to everyone. Today’s victory is not only a victory for my personal reputation but also a victory for the rule of law, justice, and the industry!” In the defamatory article, Sina reported that the FBI and IRS had launched investigations against Sun. These claims circulated widely, generating controversy regarding his business dealings. By choosing not to appeal the latest court ruling, Sina has essentially accepted the judgment. They published an apology on its platform and compensated Sun as ordered by the court. Related: TRON Memecoin Revival? SunPump Sees Surge in Token Activity Sun in his post termed the victory as more than just a personal win. “Today’s victory is not just about my reputation—it is a victory for justice, the rule of law, and the entire industry,”* he stated. The case highlights the ongoing challenges crypto entrepreneurs face in the media landscape, where misinformation can significantly impact reputations. Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.

Aleksei Andriunin, founder and chief executive officer of crypto platform Gotbit, has been extradited to the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Feb. 26 that the Russian national, arrested in October 2024 in Portugal, will face charges of market manipulation and wire fraud. The Department of Justice alleges that Andriunin engaged in wash trading, inflating cryptocurrency trading volumes on behalf of multiple firms. Other companies implicated in market manipulation allegations in 2024 include ZM Quant, CLS Global, and MyTrade. Indictment and extradition Federal prosecutors indicted Andriunin in late October 2024. According to the DOJ press release, the 26-year-old was extradited to the U.S. on Feb. 25, 2025. He will remain in custody pending a hearing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated. Read more: US indicts 26-year-old Gotbit founder for market manipulation A federal jury indicted Andriunin on Oct. 31, 2024, with charges also filed against Gotbit directors Fedor Kedrov and Qawi Jalili. Prosecutors allege that Gotbit offered market manipulation to multiple crypto entities between 2018 and 2024, creating artificial trading volumes for cryptocurrency companies, including some based in the United States. Andriunin allegedly described a wash trading code he developed during a 2019 interview. The code enabled Gotbit to artificially inflate trading volume, helping tokens gain visibility on CoinMarketCap and major exchanges. The DOJ alleges Gotbit received millions of dollars from these fraudulent activities, with Andriunin transferring part of the proceeds to a personal Binance account. If convicted, Andriunin faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to five years for conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gains from the fraudulent activities. You might also like: UK gov introduces bill to recover proceeds of crypto crime

- OKX, a top-five crypto exchange, has settled with the U.S. Department of Justice for over $500 million due to regulatory issues, including unlicensed money transmission and $5 billion in suspicious transactions. - The exchange had a crisis management plan in place, including a "SWAT Team" for strategic communication. - OKX highlights industry-wide scrutiny and its cooperation with regulators. - The exchange's native token, OKB, was involved in a flash crash earlier this year, leading to executive changes. - Share your thoughts on how regulatory actions impact the crypto space! 💬