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$165 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme Mastermind Deported Back to U.S., Facing Federal Fraud Charges
According to Cointelegraph, Edward Zimbardi, the alleged mastermind behind a $165 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, was deported back to the United States by Fijian authorities recently after hiding in Fiji for over a year, following coordination between the FBI and the U.S. Department of State, and will appear for trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Prosecutors allege that between June 2022 and August 2023, he illegally raised over $165 million in crypto assets by promising investors a fixed monthly return of 25% under the name "The Crypto Program". The raised funds were not used for the promised ad package business, but were misappropriated for over $34 million in high-risk forex trading, repaying early investors with new funds, and at least $10 million in personal expenses, including purchasing real estate, luxury vehicles, and paying alimony. Zimbardi currently faces 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, and 1 count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, totaling 25 federal charges.
U.S. Federal Judge Rules Kalshi Sports Contracts Are Not Swaps, CFTC Lacks Exclusive Jurisdiction
Odaily News: Connecticut Federal District Court Judge Vernon D. Oliver denied Kalshi's motion for a preliminary injunction, ruling that its sports event contracts do not constitute swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC therefore does not hold exclusive jurisdiction. The ruling noted that sports event contracts account for 80% to 90% of Kalshi's listed contracts and revenue, and the CFTC has never reviewed any of these contracts under relevant special rules. Oliver held that event outcomes fall under the category of event results, not separate events. Coinbase Financial Markets suffered a similar defeat on the same grounds, having offered Kalshi contracts through its platform since January as a futures commission merchant rather than a designated contract market, and Connecticut had not previously issued a cease-and-desist order against it. Kalshi was valued at approximately $11 billion at the time of its February hearing, with around 24,000 users in the state. (Bitcoin.com News)
Multiple law enforcement agencies jointly oppose key provisions of the Clarity Act; negotiations continue
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
OpenAI Lawsuit: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Testifies in Court as Altman-Musk Dispute Escalates to Core Partnership Relations in the AI Giant
Odaily Odaily News: In the OpenAI lawsuit, Satya Nadella testified in court as Microsoft's CEO at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California. The case centers on the ongoing legal dispute over OpenAI's non-profit structure and its path to commercialization. The lawsuit, filed by Elon Musk in 2024, accuses Microsoft of "aiding and abetting the breach of charitable trust obligations" during OpenAI's transition from a non-profit organization to a commercial entity. Microsoft has been making strategic investments in OpenAI since 2019, with cumulative investments reaching approximately $13 billion by 2023, making it one of OpenAI's most important external supporters.During the trial, Satya Nadella reviewed the early partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, mentioning that the two parties had established deep technological and computing power collaboration before the launch of ChatGPT. In his earlier testimony, Musk stated that Microsoft's additional investment of approximately $10 billion in OpenAI in 2023 was the key turning point that prompted him to file the lawsuit, adding that the scale of the investment altered OpenAI's original non-profit-oriented structure. During the trial, Musk stated: "We are concerned they are turning a charitable organization into a commercial tool." He also questioned Microsoft's potential dominant position in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and pointed out that its deep integration with OpenAI could impact the competitive landscape of the industry.The case is currently still under trial, and the debate surrounding OpenAI's governance structure, non-profit status, and control over the AI industry is expected to continue. (CNBC)
U.S. CFTC Imposes Trading Bans on FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang and Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison
Odaily News – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has entered supplemental consent orders against Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Gary Wang, co-founder of FTX.Under the court orders, Ellison and Wang are required to continue cooperating with the CFTC's investigation, while also facing trading and registration restrictions. Specifically, Ellison received a 5-year trading ban and a 10-year registration ban; Wang received a 5-year trading ban and an 8-year registration ban. The relevant restriction periods begin from the date of the initial consent order, which was signed on December 23, 2022.Previously, on December 23, 2022, the court found Ellison liable for two counts of fraud alleged by the CFTC, and found Wang liable for one count of fraud. Their initial consent orders permanently prohibited them from violating the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC's related anti-fraud regulations.The head of the CFTC's Division of Enforcement, David I. Miller, stated that this ruling reflects the regulator's emphasis on "effective cooperation." Although Ellison and Wang, as executives of Alameda and FTX, were involved in the relevant fraudulent conduct and were held liable, the regulator granted leniency in light of their significant assistance in the FTX-related investigations.The CFTC stated that it will not currently require Ellison and Wang to pay restitution, disgorgement, or civil monetary penalties, primarily considering the extent of their cooperation in the investigations and related criminal cases, as well as the $11.02 billion asset forfeiture order involved in the U.S. criminal case. Both individuals have previously pleaded guilty in their criminal cases, including admitting to conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and multiple other charges.
U.S. Federal Judge Rules Kalshi Sports Contracts Are Not Swaps, CFTC Lacks Exclusive Jurisdiction
Odaily News: Connecticut Federal District Court Judge Vernon D. Oliver denied Kalshi's motion for a preliminary injunction, ruling that its sports event contracts do not constitute swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC therefore does not hold exclusive jurisdiction. The ruling noted that sports event contracts account for 80% to 90% of Kalshi's listed contracts and revenue, and the CFTC has never reviewed any of these contracts under relevant special rules. Oliver held that event outcomes fall under the category of event results, not separate events. Coinbase Financial Markets suffered a similar defeat on the same grounds, having offered Kalshi contracts through its platform since January as a futures commission merchant rather than a designated contract market, and Connecticut had not previously issued a cease-and-desist order against it. Kalshi was valued at approximately $11 billion at the time of its February hearing, with around 24,000 users in the state. (Bitcoin.com News)
Bybit officially sues North Korea and hacker group Lazarus Group, successfully obtains preliminary injunction to freeze stolen assets
Odaily News, Bybit announced today that it has officially filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against North Korea (DPRK), its Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), and the Lazarus Group, holding the organization legally accountable for the大规模 cyberattack launched against Bybit in February 2025.It is reported that Bybit has successfully obtained a preliminary injunction from the court, freezing identified stolen digital assets held or transferred by unidentified individuals and entities (i.e., "John Doe" defendants). In approving the preliminary temporary restraining order, the court described the incident as "one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history" and determined that Bybit has a "likelihood of success on the merits" of the case. This civil lawsuit is independent of criminal investigations by U.S. law enforcement and aims to provide an additional legal avenue for asset recovery.In terms of asset recovery and global collaboration, Bybit has achieved notable results in partnership with blockchain analytics firms, multiple exchanges, custodial institutions, and international law enforcement agencies. To date:Approximately $48.4 million in stolen assets have been successfully recovered;Approximately $30.5 million in involved assets have been successfully frozen (distributed across more than 28 exchanges and custodial institutions).These efforts have also supported broader law enforcement actions targeting key infrastructure allegedly used to launder stolen funds: German authorities have dismantled cryptocurrency exchange eXch; German and Swiss authorities subsequently jointly shut down mixing platform Cryptomixer.io, cutting off critical channels for transferring illicit proceeds. These actions collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement agencies in combating transnational cybercrime.Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, stated: "Our core goal has never changed: prioritizing user protection, making every effort to recover assets, and ensuring those behind this are held accountable under the law. The Lazarus attack was not only directed at Bybit, but also a challenge to the trust foundation of the entire crypto industry. We will continue to deepen cooperation with law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and courts to make the crypto world a place where criminals find it difficult to hide."Bybit emphasized that it will continue to invest in advanced blockchain tracking technology, utilize all available legal means to combat state-sponsored hacker groups, and drive the establishment of a more resilient digital asset ecosystem. The civil lawsuit is currently ongoing.
Request Denied: Coinbase Fails to Block Michigan's Enforcement of Sports Event Contract Regulations
Odaily News A U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Shalina Kumar, on Thursday denied Coinbase's preliminary injunction request to block the state government from enforcing regulations on sports event contracts. The ruling stated that Coinbase failed to demonstrate that its claim of federal law preempting Michigan's jurisdiction was likely to succeed on the merits of the case. Coinbase sued Michigan in December 2025, arguing that prediction markets fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) under the federal Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), rather than state-level regulators. Coinbase sought to provide its platform customers, including those in Michigan, with access to event contracts issued by Kalshi, and stated in its complaint that Michigan law constitutes "conflict preemption" because it obstructs Congress's establishment of a unified federal regulatory framework.
Kalshi's federal protection claims dismissed by federal judge in Utah anti-gambling law lawsuit
: U.S. Federal District Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled that the Commodity Exchange Act does not prevent Utah from applying its anti-gambling laws to Kalshi's sports event contracts, granting Utah's motion for summary judgment and denying Kalshi's motion for a preliminary injunction. Shelby stated that the jurisdictional provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act are subject to multiple reasonable interpretations, and in such cases, courts generally do not support federal law preemption. He also rejected Kalshi's argument that amendments under the Dodd-Frank Act established federal preemption for derivatives trading. Kalshi spokesperson Jacki McGavick said the company disagrees with the ruling and will appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Currently, Utah users can still use sports event contracts, and the state has not yet initiated enforcement action. The New York Attorney General has already cited the ruling as supplementary grounds in opposing the CFTC's motion for a preliminary injunction against New York state. Earlier, New York sued Kalshi last week, alleging that it operates as an unlicensed gambling operator.
Shri Thanedar, Backed by Crypto PAC with Over $2 Million, Loses Michigan Democratic Primary
Odaily News: Michigan State Representative Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th Congressional District. As of Wednesday, McKinney held 51.9% of the vote, compared to Thanedar's 48.1%. In this primary, Protect Progress, a crypto-backed political action committee, spent over $2 million on media expenditures to support Thanedar's re-election and oppose McKinney. Protect Progress is affiliated with Fairshake, which is primarily backed by crypto companies Coinbase and Ripple. Thanedar previously voted in the House in favor of bills such as the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. McKinney will face Republican candidate Taras Nykoriak in the November election.
Korea Sentences Fraud Case Under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act: Mastermind of Meme Coin "Rug Pull" Gets 4 Years in Prison
: South Korea today sentenced a fraud case involving unfair trading terms under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act in its first-instance trial. The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Park, a cryptocurrency influencer who planned a Meme coin "Rug Pull" scam, to four years in prison. Two accomplices received sentences of two years and six months, and three years in prison with five years of probation, respectively.Prosecutors stated that the defendant issued a Meme coin through Pump.fun and used social media to spread false bullish information, such as "token lock-ups," inflating the coin's price approximately 1,001 times within 26 hours. This attracted about 6,000 investors to buy in, after which the group dumped their holdings to cash out. The gang spent only about 10 million Korean won on the scheme and illegally profited around 400 million Korean won. (Edaily)
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
Argentine judge orders freeze on wallets linked to Libra, involving $8.2 million in funds
Argentine Federal Judge Marcelo Martinez ordered the identification and freezing of a group of wallets linked to Libra, after the Federal Police Cybercrime Technical Department tracked the flow of related funds across multiple crypto networks since May. The investigation involves 8 wallets labeled "Libra team," which are directly connected to the token issuance.The report shows that 4 of these wallets had funneled nearly $57 million to an address, which was previously frozen and then unfrozen by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On May 10, related funds were transferred to a Tron address via an interoperability protocol, with the amount close to $500,000. At least 10 out of 17 transactions passed through Binance, while another 8 wallets are associated with Bybit, 2 with OKX, and 2 with Bitfinex. Some users involved in the $8.2 million in funds could potentially be identified through the KYC rules of centralized exchanges. The remaining funds are currently managed by Libra Trust, which plans to distribute them as grants to Argentine companies by November. There are already 71 applications pending approval.
CFTC Charges North Carolina Man in $14 Million Crypto and Futures Fraud Scheme
Odaily, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against North Carolina resident Trevor Vernon and his company, Argent Capital Management LLC, accusing them of defrauding approximately 60 investors out of a total of $14 million through a fraudulent commodity pool.According to the complaint filed by the CFTC on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the commodity pool operated by Vernon and his company involved trading in multiple asset classes, including stock index futures options, stock index futures contracts, and crypto assets.The CFTC alleges that Vernon misled investors by portraying himself as a "successful trader" through quarterly financial updates and monthly performance review emails. In reality, however, he incurred substantial losses while trading with investor funds.The regulator stated that Vernon suffered cumulative losses of at least $8.6 million from trading futures, options, and crypto assets. The CFTC claims that his actual trading results were marked by "consistent and catastrophic losses," which significantly contradicted the profitability he presented to investors.
American Judge Revives Fraud Claims Against Barry Silbert and DCG
Odaily A federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has revived common law fraud claims in the Genesis Yield lawsuit against Digital Currency Group founder Barry Silbert, DCG, and other defendants, while allowing federal securities law claims in the case to proceed.The ruling amends a prior decision by the court from February of this year. The plaintiffs had argued that the court has jurisdiction to hear their state law claims under the Class Action Fairness Act. Judge Stefan Underhill accepted this argument and reopened the relevant state law claims.The case revolves around the defunct Genesis Yield lending program, which allowed users to deposit crypto assets and earn interest. Investors allege that Silbert, DCG, and other defendants misled customers about the company's financial health and risk controls before Genesis suspended withdrawals and filed for bankruptcy in early 2023.However, not all state law claims were revived. The court dismissed consumer protection claims from four states and stayed related claims from three others. Overall, the ruling re-centers the dispute regarding fraud liability for DCG and Silbert as a focal point of the case. (The Block)
A man illegally crossed the border to engage in telecom fraud in Myawaddy, Myanmar, inducing victims to invest in virtual currencies and receiving a prison sentence
the Shanghai Baoshan District Procuratorate disclosed a case yesterday. The defendant, Huang, illegally crossed the border to participate in telecom fraud activities abroad, inducing victims to invest in virtual currencies. After the dissolution of the Myawaddy compound in Myanmar, he continued to engage in "pig-butchering" scam fraud. By using methods such as AI face-swapping and communicating through foreign models, he gained victims' trust and then guided them to participate in cryptocurrency investments. Subsequently, a team leader would take over, tricking the victims into registering, depositing, and investing on fake websites. He was ultimately sentenced by the court to two years and six months in prison for fraud, and fined 30,000 Chinese yuan. (CCTV News)
Bybit officially sues North Korea and hacker group Lazarus Group, successfully obtains preliminary injunction to freeze stolen assets
Odaily News, Bybit announced today that it has officially filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against North Korea (DPRK), its Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), and the Lazarus Group, holding the organization legally accountable for the大规模 cyberattack launched against Bybit in February 2025.It is reported that Bybit has successfully obtained a preliminary injunction from the court, freezing identified stolen digital assets held or transferred by unidentified individuals and entities (i.e., "John Doe" defendants). In approving the preliminary temporary restraining order, the court described the incident as "one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history" and determined that Bybit has a "likelihood of success on the merits" of the case. This civil lawsuit is independent of criminal investigations by U.S. law enforcement and aims to provide an additional legal avenue for asset recovery.In terms of asset recovery and global collaboration, Bybit has achieved notable results in partnership with blockchain analytics firms, multiple exchanges, custodial institutions, and international law enforcement agencies. To date:Approximately $48.4 million in stolen assets have been successfully recovered;Approximately $30.5 million in involved assets have been successfully frozen (distributed across more than 28 exchanges and custodial institutions).These efforts have also supported broader law enforcement actions targeting key infrastructure allegedly used to launder stolen funds: German authorities have dismantled cryptocurrency exchange eXch; German and Swiss authorities subsequently jointly shut down mixing platform Cryptomixer.io, cutting off critical channels for transferring illicit proceeds. These actions collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement agencies in combating transnational cybercrime.Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, stated: "Our core goal has never changed: prioritizing user protection, making every effort to recover assets, and ensuring those behind this are held accountable under the law. The Lazarus attack was not only directed at Bybit, but also a challenge to the trust foundation of the entire crypto industry. We will continue to deepen cooperation with law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and courts to make the crypto world a place where criminals find it difficult to hide."Bybit emphasized that it will continue to invest in advanced blockchain tracking technology, utilize all available legal means to combat state-sponsored hacker groups, and drive the establishment of a more resilient digital asset ecosystem. The civil lawsuit is currently ongoing.
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
US Department of Justice indicts two Chinese citizens suspected of laundering over $43 million for "pig butchering" scams
According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York Office of the United States Attorney, two Chinese citizens, Zhuoying Chen (aka "Jolene", 27, Brooklyn) and Haojie Zhang (aka "Kevin", 38, Queens), were formally indicted on July 16 at the Brooklyn Federal Court on charges of conspiracy to launder money. According to the allegations, between 2020 and 2022, the two managed a money laundering network of more than ten people in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, using approximately 45 shell companies and 140 corporate bank accounts to transfer at least $43 million in proceeds from "pig butchering" investment fraud to accounts within China. "Pig butchering" scams contact victims through social media or instant messaging software, gaining trust with false high-return investment opportunities before absconding with the funds. This case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, IRS-CI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. If convicted, the two defendants each face up to 20 years in prison.
Coinbase assists Brooklyn District Attorney in combating impersonation scam, involving approximately $16 million
Coinbase officially stated it is cooperating with the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office in New York to assist in investigating a long-term impersonation scam targeting platform users and supporting victims in recovering funds.According to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, a Brooklyn man has been charged with long-term impersonation of Coinbase customer service. Using social engineering tactics, he tricked users into believing their accounts had been compromised and instructed them to transfer funds to a "secure wallet," subsequently moving and stealing the funds. The case involves approximately 100 victims, with the total amount involved nearing $16 million. Over $600,000 has been recovered so far.Coinbase stated that this type of scam does not stem from platform security vulnerabilities but is a social engineering attack exploiting user trust and a sense of urgency. Common methods include identity forgery, impersonating customer service, and creating panic over account risks. The company stated it has cooperated with law enforcement agencies to complete various investigative tasks, including identifying suspects, assisting with victim notifications, providing data support for legal requests, and conducting on-chain fund tracing. It emphasized that blockchain traceability helps law enforcement track the flow of funds.Coinbase also reminded users that the platform will never ask them to transfer funds to a "secure wallet" or request 2FA codes, seed phrases, or password reset links. It recommends that users only contact customer service through official in-app channels. The company will continue to strengthen its anti-fraud mechanisms, user education, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to address increasingly sophisticated crypto asset fraud activities.
Multiple law enforcement agencies jointly oppose key provisions of the Clarity Act; negotiations continue
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies Jointly Warn That the “Clarity Act” Could Weaken Investigations into Cryptocurrency Crimes
According to The Block, four major U.S. law enforcement organizations—the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association—jointly wrote to the Department of Justice and the White House, warning that Section 604 of the “Clarity Act” (i.e., the “Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act”) contains regulatory loopholes. This provision offers a “safe harbor” exemption for non-custodial developers; law enforcement agencies contend that it could shield individuals or entities assisting in the transfer of crypto assets, hinder investigations and prosecutions of crypto-related crimes, and weaken the existing anti-money laundering framework.
Unitree Robotics: 10% of Shares Allocated to Offline Investors Will Be Locked Up for 6 Months
Odaily News Unitree Robotics today released the announcement regarding the online issuance subscription and lottery result for its initial public offering of shares on the STAR Market. The announcement disclosed that after the strategic placement adjustment, the offline issuance volume is 25,886,148 shares, accounting for approximately 80.00% of the issuance volume after deducting the final strategic placement quantity. This offline issuance adopts a proportional lock-up method, where offline investors must commit that 10% of their allocated shares (rounded up) will be subject to a lock-up period of 6 months from the date of the issuer's initial public offering and listing. Specifically, for the shares allocated to each placement object, 90% of the shares have no lock-up period and can be traded immediately upon listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange; the remaining 10% of shares will be locked up for 6 months, with the lock-up period commencing from the date the shares are listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.Unitree Robotics also announced that the issuer and the lead underwriter (sponsor) have scheduled the online issuance lottery drawing ceremony for the morning of August 11, 2026 (T+1 day) at Room 707, North Tower, Shanghai Securities Building, No. 528 South Pudong Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai. The results of the online lottery drawing will be announced on August 12, 2026 (T+2 day).
Bybit officially sues North Korea and hacker group Lazarus Group, successfully obtains preliminary injunction to freeze stolen assets
Odaily News, Bybit announced today that it has officially filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against North Korea (DPRK), its Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), and the Lazarus Group, holding the organization legally accountable for the大规模 cyberattack launched against Bybit in February 2025.It is reported that Bybit has successfully obtained a preliminary injunction from the court, freezing identified stolen digital assets held or transferred by unidentified individuals and entities (i.e., "John Doe" defendants). In approving the preliminary temporary restraining order, the court described the incident as "one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history" and determined that Bybit has a "likelihood of success on the merits" of the case. This civil lawsuit is independent of criminal investigations by U.S. law enforcement and aims to provide an additional legal avenue for asset recovery.In terms of asset recovery and global collaboration, Bybit has achieved notable results in partnership with blockchain analytics firms, multiple exchanges, custodial institutions, and international law enforcement agencies. To date:Approximately $48.4 million in stolen assets have been successfully recovered;Approximately $30.5 million in involved assets have been successfully frozen (distributed across more than 28 exchanges and custodial institutions).These efforts have also supported broader law enforcement actions targeting key infrastructure allegedly used to launder stolen funds: German authorities have dismantled cryptocurrency exchange eXch; German and Swiss authorities subsequently jointly shut down mixing platform Cryptomixer.io, cutting off critical channels for transferring illicit proceeds. These actions collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement agencies in combating transnational cybercrime.Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, stated: "Our core goal has never changed: prioritizing user protection, making every effort to recover assets, and ensuring those behind this are held accountable under the law. The Lazarus attack was not only directed at Bybit, but also a challenge to the trust foundation of the entire crypto industry. We will continue to deepen cooperation with law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and courts to make the crypto world a place where criminals find it difficult to hide."Bybit emphasized that it will continue to invest in advanced blockchain tracking technology, utilize all available legal means to combat state-sponsored hacker groups, and drive the establishment of a more resilient digital asset ecosystem. The civil lawsuit is currently ongoing.
Kalshi's federal protection claims dismissed by federal judge in Utah anti-gambling law lawsuit
: U.S. Federal District Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled that the Commodity Exchange Act does not prevent Utah from applying its anti-gambling laws to Kalshi's sports event contracts, granting Utah's motion for summary judgment and denying Kalshi's motion for a preliminary injunction. Shelby stated that the jurisdictional provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act are subject to multiple reasonable interpretations, and in such cases, courts generally do not support federal law preemption. He also rejected Kalshi's argument that amendments under the Dodd-Frank Act established federal preemption for derivatives trading. Kalshi spokesperson Jacki McGavick said the company disagrees with the ruling and will appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Currently, Utah users can still use sports event contracts, and the state has not yet initiated enforcement action. The New York Attorney General has already cited the ruling as supplementary grounds in opposing the CFTC's motion for a preliminary injunction against New York state. Earlier, New York sued Kalshi last week, alleging that it operates as an unlicensed gambling operator.
Shri Thanedar, Backed by Crypto PAC with Over $2 Million, Loses Michigan Democratic Primary
Odaily News: Michigan State Representative Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th Congressional District. As of Wednesday, McKinney held 51.9% of the vote, compared to Thanedar's 48.1%. In this primary, Protect Progress, a crypto-backed political action committee, spent over $2 million on media expenditures to support Thanedar's re-election and oppose McKinney. Protect Progress is affiliated with Fairshake, which is primarily backed by crypto companies Coinbase and Ripple. Thanedar previously voted in the House in favor of bills such as the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. McKinney will face Republican candidate Taras Nykoriak in the November election.
Decentralized storage project Storj Labs files for bankruptcy protection
According to Cointelegraph, decentralized cloud storage provider Storj Labs has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. The company stated that during the restructuring, the network will maintain normal operations, customer service will not be affected, and parent company Inveniam will continue to provide support. Storj management plans to propose a mechanism allowing STORJ token holders to participate in the equity of the restructured company, but specific eligibility criteria, token snapshots or lock-up arrangements, and equity allocation ratios have not yet been disclosed; any plan must be approved by the court.
BitMEX Faces 623 BTC Class-Action Lawsuit on Day of Closure Announcement
According to Cointelegraph, BitMEX was sued in a class-action lawsuit by BKX Services Inc. and David Namdar in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 24. The plaintiffs allege that BitMEX's internal trading team used privileged access during server freezes to illegally obtain customer Bitcoin collateral by manipulating the forced liquidation mechanism. The two plaintiffs suffered a combined loss of 622.66 BTC (BKX lost at least 305.81 BTC, and Namdar lost over 316.85 BTC). The plaintiffs demand the return of the seized Bitcoin and seek compensatory and punitive damages, representing U.S. users who purchased BTC swap products since July 23, 2018. Notably, the lawsuit was filed on the same day as the announcement of BitMEX's closure—BitMEX's parent company HDR Global Trading announced it will cease services on September 23 and has stopped accepting new user registrations. Following the announcement, the price of its BMEX token plummeted by approximately 90%.
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U.S. CFTC Imposes Trading Bans on FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang and Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison
Odaily News – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has entered supplemental consent orders against Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Gary Wang, co-founder of FTX.Under the court orders, Ellison and Wang are required to continue cooperating with the CFTC's investigation, while also facing trading and registration restrictions. Specifically, Ellison received a 5-year trading ban and a 10-year registration ban; Wang received a 5-year trading ban and an 8-year registration ban. The relevant restriction periods begin from the date of the initial consent order, which was signed on December 23, 2022.Previously, on December 23, 2022, the court found Ellison liable for two counts of fraud alleged by the CFTC, and found Wang liable for one count of fraud. Their initial consent orders permanently prohibited them from violating the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC's related anti-fraud regulations.The head of the CFTC's Division of Enforcement, David I. Miller, stated that this ruling reflects the regulator's emphasis on "effective cooperation." Although Ellison and Wang, as executives of Alameda and FTX, were involved in the relevant fraudulent conduct and were held liable, the regulator granted leniency in light of their significant assistance in the FTX-related investigations.The CFTC stated that it will not currently require Ellison and Wang to pay restitution, disgorgement, or civil monetary penalties, primarily considering the extent of their cooperation in the investigations and related criminal cases, as well as the $11.02 billion asset forfeiture order involved in the U.S. criminal case. Both individuals have previously pleaded guilty in their criminal cases, including admitting to conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and multiple other charges.
$165 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme Mastermind Deported Back to U.S., Facing Federal Fraud Charges
According to Cointelegraph, Edward Zimbardi, the alleged mastermind behind a $165 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, was deported back to the United States by Fijian authorities recently after hiding in Fiji for over a year, following coordination between the FBI and the U.S. Department of State, and will appear for trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Prosecutors allege that between June 2022 and August 2023, he illegally raised over $165 million in crypto assets by promising investors a fixed monthly return of 25% under the name "The Crypto Program". The raised funds were not used for the promised ad package business, but were misappropriated for over $34 million in high-risk forex trading, repaying early investors with new funds, and at least $10 million in personal expenses, including purchasing real estate, luxury vehicles, and paying alimony. Zimbardi currently faces 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, and 1 count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, totaling 25 federal charges.
South Korean court sentences Delio CEO to 15 years in prison
The Seoul Southern District Court in South Korea sentenced Jeong Sang-ho, CEO of the cryptocurrency platform Delio, to 15 years in prison for defrauding customers of approximately $49.2 million in crypto assets and forging registration documents.
South Korea sentences Delio CEO Jeong Sang-ho to 15 years in prison
According to The Block, the Seoul Southern District Court sentenced cryptocurrency platform Delio CEO Jung Sang-ho to 15 years in prison for defrauding customers of approximately 70 billion won (approximately $49.2 million) in crypto assets and forging documents to register as a Virtual Asset Service Provider. Prosecutors had previously requested a 20-year sentence, but the court dismissed the main fraud charges involving approximately 250 billion won (approximately $175.6 million) affecting about 2,800 victims, citing that evidence obtained from searching the server operator was illegally collected. The court also ordered his detention citing flight risk. Delio had suddenly suspended withdrawals in June 2023 and declared bankruptcy in November 2024.
CFTC Emergency Order Requires Kalshi to Continue Operations, Citing Bitcoin Position Liquidation Risk
Odaily News: On August 11, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) required prediction market platform Kalshi to continue operating its exchange, in accordance with normal business practices and the core principles of the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC previously determined that New York State's attempt to block the platform's operations constituted a market emergency. The CFTC stated that forcibly liquidating a bitcoin price position set to expire at the end of 2026 could trigger traders to simultaneously unwind their bitcoin and other asset positions, exposing arbitrageurs holding opposing positions to one-sided risk. The order also cited contracts such as federal funds rates, Strait of Hormuz traffic, and the timing of a recession. A ruling signed on August 7 and filed on August 10 by Judge Vernon D. Oliver of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut determined that Kalshi's sports contracts are not swaps; even if they were swaps, federal law would not preempt Connecticut's gambling regulations. (Bitcoin.com News)
U.S. Federal Judge Rules Kalshi Sports Contracts Are Not Swaps, CFTC Lacks Exclusive Jurisdiction
Odaily News: Connecticut Federal District Court Judge Vernon D. Oliver denied Kalshi's motion for a preliminary injunction, ruling that its sports event contracts do not constitute swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC therefore does not hold exclusive jurisdiction. The ruling noted that sports event contracts account for 80% to 90% of Kalshi's listed contracts and revenue, and the CFTC has never reviewed any of these contracts under relevant special rules. Oliver held that event outcomes fall under the category of event results, not separate events. Coinbase Financial Markets suffered a similar defeat on the same grounds, having offered Kalshi contracts through its platform since January as a futures commission merchant rather than a designated contract market, and Connecticut had not previously issued a cease-and-desist order against it. Kalshi was valued at approximately $11 billion at the time of its February hearing, with around 24,000 users in the state. (Bitcoin.com News)