Regulatory Enforcement and Legal Actions in Crypto₿ Crypto

US Crypto Crackdown: 10 Charged in Market Manipulation Schemes

April 1, 2026, 06:01 PM145 words8 sources
US Crypto Crackdown: 10 Charged in Market Manipulation Schemes

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Federal authorities have intensified enforcement actions against cryptocurrency market manipulation, charging 10 individuals linked to four firms – Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian – with orchestrating “pump-and-dump” schemes. The DOJ alleges these entities artificially inflated trading volumes and cryptocurrency prices before selling to unsuspecting investors, causing significant losses. An FBI undercover operation, deploying a fabricated token called NexFundAI, was instrumental in uncovering the fraudulent activities. Three executives were extradited from Singapore and have appeared in US federal court, with two others already pleading guilty. The investigation, spanning back to 2018, has resulted in the seizure of over $1 million in crypto assets. Simultaneously, the CFTC reached a settlement with KuCoin operator Peken Global, imposing a $500,000 fine and a permanent injunction for operating an unregistered exchange. These actions signal a heightened regulatory focus on policing crypto market abuse and expanding international cooperation in prosecuting offenders.

Source Articles

This article is based on analysis of 8 source articles from our news database.

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