The Department of Justice Charges Gotbit Founder
WASHINGTON, October 31 (Reuters) - The founder of Gotbit, a crypto market-making company, has been accused of involvement in a large-scale conspiracy aimed at manipulating cryptocurrency markets on behalf of client crypto firms, the U.S. Department of Justice reported on Thursday.
Indictment of Aleksei Andriunin
Aleksei Andriunin, 26, faces charges of fraud and conspiracy to manipulate the market and commit wire fraud, according to the Department of Justice’s statement.
Gotbit Accused of Manipulating Trading Volumes
The Department of Justice alleges that between 2018 and 2024, when Andriunin was CEO, Gotbit provided market manipulation services designed to artificially inflate trading volumes for several cryptocurrency companies, including some based in the United States.
Additional Charges for Gotbit and Its Executives
The indictment also includes two Gotbit executives — Fedor Kedrov and Qawi Jalili — who were previously charged in a case unsealed on October 9.
Potential Sentence for Andriunin
If convicted of wire fraud, Andriunin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. For conspiracy to manipulate the market and commit fraud, he could face an additional five years, according to the Department of Justice.
Other Crypto Fraud Cases
On October 9, federal prosecutors announced charges against Gotbit, ZM Quant, CLS Global, and their leaders and employ
#LegalUpdate , #CryptoLaw , #cryptoregulation , #CryptoNews🚀🔥 , #Gotbit

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The Ripple Labs class action lawsuit just took a major turn as the U.S. District Court delivered game-changing rulings, setting the stage for a high-stakes jury trial this January! Recent settlement talks failed, pushing both sides to face off in court with big implications for XRP's future. Here's what happened:

📌 Key Wins for Plaintiffs: The court upheld the expert testimonies of Jeremy Clark and Saifedean Ammous, both asserting Ripple’s significant role in XRP’s ecosystem. Clark claims XRP distribution has largely benefited Ripple, an argument that Judge Hamilton allowed despite Ripple's objections.

📌 Ripple’s Defense Hit: Ripple’s bid to present Alan Schwartz’s testimony on XRP's status as an investment contract was denied, removing a key defense strategy. Meanwhile, the exclusion of plaintiff expert Joel Seligman was a minor win for Ripple, keeping the legal playing field dynamic.

📌 Trial Date Set – Conflicting Expert Views Await Jury: In January, the jury will hear opposing takes from both Ripple and plaintiffs on Ripple's influence over XRP's market value, diving into whether Ripple’s actions impact XRP's price.

And it’s not over! Ripple’s separate showdown with the SEC is still on, heading into the appeals phase. The legal storm around Ripple and XRP is intensifying, and January’s trial could shape the future of this digital asset.

#RippleLabs #XRP #CryptoLaw #SEC #RippleTrial

The Ripple Labs class action lawsuit has taken a major turn. The U.S. District Court just issued pivotal rulings, setting the stage for a high-stakes jury trial set for January! Recent attempts at settlement failed, meaning both sides will face off with significant implications for XRP's future. Here’s what went down:

📌 Wins for Plaintiffs: The court upheld expert testimonies from Jeremy Clark and Saifedean Ammous, both arguing Ripple’s strong influence over XRP’s ecosystem. Clark claims that XRP distribution has primarily benefited Ripple, an argument that Judge Hamilton allowed despite Ripple's objections.

📌 Ripple’s Defense Setback: Ripple’s attempt to include Alan Schwartz’s testimony on XRP’s status as an investment contract was denied, removing a key part of their defense. However, the exclusion of plaintiff expert Joel Seligman was a small win for Ripple, adding to the legal back-and-forth.

📌 Jury Trial Set – Expert Testimonies in Focus: The trial in January will see expert witnesses from both sides, examining Ripple’s role in XRP’s market value and whether Ripple’s actions influence its price.

And there’s more! Ripple’s separate battle with the SEC continues in the appeals phase, intensifying the legal pressure. January's trial could have lasting effects on the future of XRP and the crypto landscape.

#RippleLabs #XRP #CryptoLaw #SEC #RippleTrial $XRP $BTC

The Ripple Labs class action lawsuit just took a major turn as the U.S. District Court delivered game-changing rulings, setting the stage for a high-stakes jury trial this January! Recent settlement talks failed, pushing both sides to face off in court with big implications for XRP's future. Here's what happened:
📌 Key Wins for Plaintiffs: The court upheld the expert testimonies of Jeremy Clark and Saifedean Ammous, both asserting Ripple’s significant role in XRP’s ecosystem. Clark claims XRP distribution has largely benefited Ripple, an argument that Judge Hamilton allowed despite Ripple's objections.
📌 Ripple’s Defense Hit: Ripple’s bid to present Alan Schwartz’s testimony on XRP's status as an investment contract was denied, removing a key defense strategy. Meanwhile, the exclusion of plaintiff expert Joel Seligman was a minor win for Ripple, keeping the legal playing field dynamic.
📌 Trial Date Set – Conflicting Expert Views Await Jury: In January, the jury will hear opposing takes from both Ripple and plaintiffs on Ripple's influence over XRP's market value, diving into whether Ripple’s actions impact XRP's price.
And it’s not over! Ripple’s separate showdown with the SEC is still on, heading into the appeals phase. The legal storm around Ripple and XRP is intensifying, and January’s trial could shape the future of this digital asset.

The U.S. appeals court ruled that homeowner Ali Sedaghatpour's lawsuit, which sought coverage from Lemonade Insurance for losses due to a crypto scam, was correctly dismissed by the district court.
Claim for Compensation for Cryptocurrency Loss Rejected
Homeowner Ali Sedaghatpour attempted to sue his insurance provider for a $170,000 loss resulting from a crypto scam. However, the appeals court ruled that there was no error in the district court's decision to dismiss the case. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found that Sedaghatpour’s insurance claim was invalid since his policy only covered “direct physical loss” of property.
Lemonade Insurance Not Responsible for Digital Loss
Sedaghatpour argued that personal property insurance should also cover stolen cryptocurrency. This case was one of the few where a crypto user attempted to argue that crypto assets were personal property covered by a homeowners insurance policy.
The court, however, ruled that under Virginia law, “direct physical loss” requires material destruction or damage. Since the digital theft of cryptocurrency does not constitute physical loss, Sedaghatpour could not recover his loss.
Limited Loss Coverage in Insurance Policy
The appeals court noted that Lemonade Insurance’s policy only covered up to $500 for losses from unauthorized use of electronic access devices, but Sedaghatpour’s claimed $170,000 for personal property coverage exceeded this limit.

Case Background
Sedaghatpour sued Lemonade Insurance in March 2022 after transferring $170,000 to a fraudulent entity, APYHarvest, in December 2021, which allegedly exploited his crypto wallet. When he discovered the wallet had been emptied, he accused APYHarvest of stealing his cryptocurrency and filed a lawsuit against Lemonade Insurance for coverage.
Lemonade Insurance's Legal Argument
Lemonade Insurance argued that while a hardware wallet is a tangible object, the data it contains lacks physical properties and cannot be considered a “direct physical loss” of property. Cryptocurrency itself remains an intangible asset, the company added.
Neither Sedaghatpour’s nor Lemonade Insurance’s legal representatives have yet commented on the case.

#Bitcoin❗ , #CryptoLaw , #CryptoNews🚀🔥 , #Digitalasset , #cryptoscams

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Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

SEC’s Battle Against Ripple: A Crucial Moment for $XRP Holders ⚖️
As the legal showdown between the SEC and Ripple continues to unfold, attorney Fred Rispoli has shared some key insights that could determine the future of $XRP. Appearing on the "Thinking Crypto" podcast, Rispoli revealed what could make or break the SEC’s chances of winning the case. According to him, the outcome may depend largely on the panel of judges that gets assigned to handle the appeal. 📜
He emphasized, “If the panel has a track record of siding with the government, the SEC's odds could skyrocket—possibly giving them a 70-80% chance of winning." This puts Ripple and $XRP holders on edge, as the panel’s composition might tilt the scales in favor of the SEC. 😨
However, Rispoli believes Ripple has the tools to fight back. Despite the risks on both sides, Ripple's chances could improve in certain areas of the case, particularly in programmatic sales, which he sees as the most dangerous aspect for $XRP holders. This part of the appeal will likely be the SEC’s key target, and if they succeed, it could spell trouble not only for Ripple but also for other major players like Coinbase and Kraken. 🔥
Rispoli also anticipates that the SEC will push for higher penalties in the final judgment, making it even more crucial for Ripple to maintain the confidence of its institutional investors throughout the appeal process. With so much at stake, this battle could define the future of $XRP and the wider crypto market. 🌐
#Ripple #XRP #CryptoLaw #SECvsRippleAppeal #BinanceLaunchpoolView
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The legal representatives of the lead plaintiff, the Moskowitz law firm, stated that the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell (S&C) was voluntarily dismissed from the case without any settlement.
FTX Investors Withdraw Lawsuit Against Law Firm S&C
FTX investors have voluntarily dropped the proposed class-action lawsuit against the U.S. law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. On February 16, a group of FTX creditors filed the lawsuit, claiming that the firm played a role in the multi-billion dollar FTX fraud and profited financially from it. The lawsuit accused S&C of conspiracy, aiding in the breach of fiduciary duty, and aiding in fraud.

Sullivan & Cromwell served as external legal counsel for FTX in several transactions and oversaw the company's bankruptcy proceedings.
Lack of Evidence to Build the Case
The legal representatives of the lead plaintiff explained that Sullivan & Cromwell was voluntarily dismissed due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Adam Moskowitz, founding partner of the Moskowitz law firm, explained that there wasn't enough evidence at this time to proceed with the lawsuit.
"Based on the evidence we've seen, we don't believe there is enough to bring forth a cause of action, so we have dismissed the case," Moskowitz stated. He further added that this step would allow the case to focus on recovering compensation for the victims from other involved parties.
Focus on Compensation for Victims
Moskowitz noted that withdrawing the lawsuit against S&C is a positive development for FTX creditors, as they can now focus on seeking compensation from other parties. "This is a great day for all FTX victims because, working with the Estate, we will seek to provide every victim with 100% full recovery from these 43 responsible parties," Moskowitz added.
The legal firm also emphasized that there was no settlement involved in the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Judge Approves FTX Reorganization Plan
The lawsuit was dismissed shortly after the bankruptcy judge approved FTX's reorganization plan. On October 7, U.S. bankruptcy judge John Dorsey approved FTX's plan to end its operations as part of its efforts to repay creditors. The plan allows debtors to repay approximately 119% of their claimed account value.
#FTX. , #CryptoNewsCommunity , #CryptoNews🚀🔥 , #Justice , #CryptoLaw
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Smart contracts are now legally enforceable in Argentina
Smart contracts, which are blockchain-automated programs, have gained official legal recognition in Argentina. The local judicial system has, for the first time, acknowledged the enforceability of a smart contract, meaning they can now be used for legal transactions such as rental agreements or payment for purchases. Cryptocurrencies have recently been approved as valid means of payment in commercial contracts in the country.
Legal Milestone for Smart Contracts in Argentina
Smart contracts, automatically executed digital contracts based on blockchain, have reached a significant milestone in Argentina. According to local reports, the first smart contract based on the Cardano blockchain has been recognized by an Argentine court as legally binding. This historic event may be one of the first not only in Argentina but also in the world.
The contract involved a four-month loan of 10,000 ADA (approximately $3,430) with a 10% interest rate between two Cardano representatives in Argentina, Mauro Andreoli and Lucas Macchia. Andreoli stated that the formalization of this contract means that “any breach can be legally enforced in ADA cryptocurrency.”
Additional Legal Document for the Smart Contract
Due to the digital nature of smart contracts, an additional legal document had to be signed. This document detailed the loan, the blockchain on which the contract was built, and the wallet addresses associated with the transaction. Since this was the first case of its kind, similar documentation may be required in future instances to legalize smart contracts.

Andreoli highlighted the importance of this development, stating:
“We’ve just signed the first legally and judicially binding contract on the Cardano network, fully compliant with the laws of the Argentine Republic.”
Educating Judges and the Future of Smart Contracts
Andreoli believes the crypto community should work on educating national judges to familiarize them with this new type of contract. He sees this event as the “initial step in creating favorable case law in the country and facilitating business transactions.”
Smart contracts are supported by President Milei’s omnibus law, which legalized the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as part of commercial contracts in Argentina. Andreoli concluded that smart contracts can now be used to formalize rental, purchase, and other legal agreements.
#smartcontracts , #blockchaininnovation , #CryptoLaw , #CryptoNews🚀🔥 , #Argentina

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Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“