CZ gets four months in prison, Gary Gensler had Ether as security for at least 1one year, and the FBI targets crypto mixers.
Former Binance CEO Changpeng CZ Zhao has been sentenced to four months in prison for failing to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering program at the cryptocurrency exchange. The sentence was delivered by Judge Richard Jones in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on April 30, following Zhaos guilty plea in November. Although prosecutors initially sought a three-year prison term, Judge Jones decided on a shorter sentence, noting that there was no evidence Zhao was directly informed of specific illegal activities at Binance.
The lawsuit filed by Consensys against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revealed details about the Commissions view of Ether as a security. Based on court documents, the SEC and its chair, Gary Gensler, have reportedly considered Ether to be an unregistered security not in compliance with federal regulations for at least a year. The revelation is part of Consensys response to a Wells notice from the SEC with an unredacted complaint in a Texas federal court.
An advisory issued by U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation against using unregistered cryptocurrency money-transmitting services may be targeting smart-contract privacy tools, according to legal professionals. On April 25, the FBI issued a public service announcement advising Americans to only use registered crypto businesses that adhere to Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering regulations. The FBI highlighted that it had taken action against unlicensed cryptocurrency services, warning that users of such services could face financial disruptions, especially if their funds are mixed with those obtained illegally.