US Regulator Charges South African MTI and Its Operator With $1.7 Billion Fraud Involving Bitcoin
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has charged Mirror Trading International (MTI) and its operator with a $1.7 billion fraud involving bitcoin. This action is the regulator’s largest fraud scheme case involving the cryptocurrency. CFTC Takes Action Against MTI
The CFTC announced Thursday that it has charged a “South African pool operator and CEO with $1.7 billion fraud involving bitcoin.” The regulator added: This action is CFTC’s largest fraud scheme case involving bitcoin.
The derivatives watchdog has filed a civil enforcement action, charging Cornelius Johannes Steynberg and Mirror Trading International Proprietary Ltd. (MTI) with “fraud and registration violations.”
From approximately May 18, 2018, through March 20 last year, “Steynberg, individually and as the controlling person of MTI, engaged in an international fraudulent multilevel marketing scheme … to solicit bitcoin from members of the public for participation in a commodity pool operated by MTI,” the CFTC detailed, elaborating: During this period, Steynberg … accepted at least 29,421 bitcoin — with a value of over $1,733,838,372 at the end of the period.
The announcement adds that the CFTC “seeks full restitution to defrauded investors, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, permanent registration and trading bans, and a permanent injunction against future violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC Regulations.”
The derivatives watchdog described: The defendants misappropriated, either directly or indirectly, all of the bitcoin they accepted from the pool participants.
The CFTC concluded: “Sternberg is a fugitive from South African law enforcement, but was recently detained in the Federative Republic of Brazil on an Interpol arrest warrant.” Tags in this story CFTC Cornelius Johannes Steynberg, cftc Mirror Trading International, CFTC MTI, Cornelius Johannes Steynberg, ligitation mti, mirror trading international
What do you think about the CFTC’s action against MTI and its operator? Let us know in the comments section below. Kevin Helms
A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. Senator Indira Kempis Proposes Bill to Make Bitcoin Legal Tender in Mexico REGULATION | 8 mins ago EU Agreement Reached on Anti-money Laundering Rules for Cryptocurrencies REGULATION | 2 days ago
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Previous articleCrypto Exchange Coincoinx to Launch Crypto to Fiat Payments App in Venezuela Next articleStudy: AUM of Crypto Investment Products at Record Lows in June, Trust Products Garner Lowest Total Since December 2020 Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Read disclaimerShow comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItCentral Bank of Brazil Confirms It Will Run a Pilot Test for Its CBDC This Year
The Central Bank of Brazil has confirmed that the institution will run a pilot test regarding the implementation of its proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital real. Roberto Campos Neto, president of the bank, also stated that this ... read more.Today"s Top Ethereum and Bitcoin Mining Devices Continue to Rake in Profits NFT Sales Volume Saw a Small Uptick This Week — Moonbirds, Mutant Apes Take Top Sales Australia to List Bitcoin ETF After 4 Clearinghouse Participants Commit to Meet Stringent Margin Terms Iran to Increase Penalties for Unauthorized Cryptocurrency Mining