As the smoke clears from the incident that has been shaking the cryptocurrency industry, the jury finally prepares to deliver a verdict in the trial of former FTX head, Sam Bankman-Fried.
Bankman-Fried, a prominent figure within the virtual money industry since 2019, is accused of manipulating the market behind the trading platform FTX. The US Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are leading the criminal investigation against him.
The former head of the trading platform allegedly used his privileged position on the exchange to launch an elaborate scheme that involved buying and selling cryptocurrency at preferred prices. The investigation claims that ever since he assumed the role of the exchange’s CEO, Bankman-Fried has been orchestrating transactions and using an algorithm to artificially control the value of the digital currency.
Bankman-Fried has adamantly denied these claims and has stated that his actions were within the parameters of the law. His lawyers have argued that the buy-sell operations were meant to promote FTX’s presence in the trading community and that there was nothing illegal about them.
The case is proving to be an important one for the entire cryptocurrency industry, setting a precedent for how the government will approach these transactions. As of now, the US SEC is looking to establish a new set of regulations for digital currency trading. The outcome of the trial could set a framework for these new regulations and this may have major implications for the entire industry.
The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried is set to begin this month and will undoubtedly be closely followed by the public. This case will show us just how far the government is willing to go in regulating cryptocurrency and the digital money industry. It will be a defining moment in the industry – one which could shape its future.