**Crypto Insider Trading Scandals Rock Industry**
Insider trading is a persistent issue in the crypto world, with recent high-profile cases highlighting its prevalence.
- **OpenSea**: In 2021, Nate Chastain, OpenSea’s head of product, was convicted of fraud for using insider info to profit from NFT trades, netting $57,000. He received a three-month sentence and is appealing his conviction.
- **BitMEX**: Founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed pled guilty in 2022 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. They face a class-action lawsuit alleging insider trading and market manipulation.
- **Coinbase**: In 2022, three employees were charged for insider trading, profiting $1.5 million from confidential listing info. Sentences ranged from 10 months to two years.
A 2023 Solidus Labs report revealed that 56% of ERC-20 tokens showed signs of insider trading, underscoring the need for vigilance in the crypto market.