In a landmark decision by a New York jury, Terraform Labs along with its Co-Founder, Do Kwon, have been convicted of fraud, accused of misleading investors regarding the stability of its stablecoin, UST. The case stemmed from the dramatic collapse of Terra's UST in 2022, which resulted in a staggering $40 billion loss for investors, causing widespread turmoil within the cryptocurrency industry. This verdict comes after a two-week trial and represents a notable victory for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in its efforts to enhance regulatory control over the burgeoning digital currency market.

The outcome of this trial could also signal what might be expected in the upcoming criminal cases against Kwon, both in the United States and South Korea. In these jurisdictions, the thresholds for proving guilt are notably higher. Kwon, who holds a dominant 92% control over Terraform Labs, was apprehended in Montenegro on charges of using a fake passport. Currently, he is at the center of a legal tug-of-war concerning his extradition between the U.S. and South Korea, both of which are seeking to prosecute him for criminal fraud.

A recent decision by Montenegro’s Supreme Court has increased the likelihood of Kwon's extradition, overturning prior rulings that had recommended sending him to Seoul.

The jury, after less than two hours of deliberation, found that Kwon and Terraform Labs had falsely represented the capabilities of their blockchain technology in its application with Chai, a popular payment app in Korea. Moreover, the verdict highlighted the dissemination of misleading information regarding the stability of the UST stablecoin, which was allegedly designed to maintain a constant value tied to the US dollar through algorithmic means. This judgment underscores the growing scrutiny and legal challenges facing the crypto industry, particularly regarding the transparency and reliability of stablecoins and blockchain technology.

#crypto #fraud #dokwon #terraform

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