Cryptocurrency
BitMEX Fined $100M for Violating Bank Secrecy Act
On January 15, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that BitMEX and its parent company, HDR Global Trading Limited, have been fined $100 million for violating the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
The court found that the crypto exchange willfully failed to establish adequate anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols.
BitMEX’s Response
In addition to the fine, the company was sentenced to two years of probation. U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky emphasized the ruling’s significance, stating that it sends a strong message to companies that non-compliance with AML and KYC requirements will result in severe consequences.
The development follows the firm’s guilty plea in July 2024 to BSA violations after a prolonged legal battle. The company had initially agreed to pay $110 million in penalties but faced additional financial sanctions imposed by the court.
BitMEX responded to the judgment in a statement, expressing disappointment over the added penalty but highlighting that the amount was significantly lower than the $420 million the DOJ had pursued over the past three years.
The firm characterized the charges as “old news” and expressed relief at resolving the matter, revealing its commitment to moving forward with a renewed focus on innovation and quality services. It also noted efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance, including implementing advanced user verification systems and comprehensive AML and KYC frameworks.
Legal Fallout
Court documents disclosed that BitMEX, founded in 2014 by Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed, with Gregory Dwyer joining in 2015, knowingly operated in the United States without proper registration or a sufficient AML program.
Despite being fully aware of legal requirements, the company’s executives bypassed KYC protocols, allowing U.S. traders to access the platform with minimal verification.
Investigations further revealed that the exchange deliberately took steps to evade U.S. laws and misled a bank about a subsidiary’s operations to funnel millions of dollars through the financial system, prioritizing profits over compliance with regulatory obligations.
This latest judgment is part of a criminal case following separate settlements. Hayes, Delo, Reed, and Dwyer had all previously pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act and were sentenced in 2022. Earlier that year, the executives were also fined a combined $30 million in a civil case brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
At the time, BitMEX agreed to pay $100 million to settle with the CFTC and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Hayes also stepped down as CEO in 2020 and later surrendered to U.S. authorities in connection with the criminal charges.
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Cryptocurrency
DeFi Agents AI Secures $1.2M to Drive Innovation in AI-Powered Decentralized Finance
[PRESS RELEASE – Singapore, Singapore, January 17th, 2025]
DeFi Agents AI (DEFAI) has raised $1.2M, supporting its efforts to improve the way users interact with decentralized finance. With the trading tool powered by AI, the platform aims to transform how users interact with decentralized finance, offering innovative tools and enhanced accessibility.
DEFAI: Decentralized Finance Meets Artificial Intelligence
DEFAI (Decentralized Finance & Artificial Intelligence) represents an emerging sector with significant potential. Experts anticipate that the DEFAI market could grow to $20 billion, positioning it as a key trend within the crypto industry.
By leveraging AI, DEFAI simplifies trading, automates complex tasks, and improves accessibility, making decentralized finance more approachable to a broader audience.
DeFi Agents AI: Combining AI and DeFi for Smarter Trading
DeFi Agents AI is an AI-powered trading assistant designed to empower traders with innovative tools, including automated trading, and real-time market insights. The platform offers intuitive solutions for navigating the fast-paced crypto market, catering to both experienced traders and newcomers.
With support from notable launchpads such as GameFi.org, eesee.io, and SETAI Agents, DeFi Agents AI is positioned as a notable participant in the emerging DeFAI movement, as the platform prepares for its token launch on Base Network.
The upcoming launch of $DEFAI further solidifies DeFi Agents AI’s commitment to scalability and innovation. By leveraging Base Network’s high throughput and low transaction costs, DeFi Agents AI seeks to deliver efficient and accessible trading solutions for its users.
Over 11,000 DAU from Alpha App Version
DeFi Agents AI has onboarded over 11,000 active users, reaching 720,000 interactions within two weeks of the Alpha launch. These notable milestones reflect the platform’s adoption and appeal to newcomers.
With $5M in assets under management and $2.3B in trading volume generated, DeFi Agents AI is setting a high standard in the DeFAI sector. Backed by a diverse network of top-tier investors, leading VCs, influential KOLs, and blockchain pioneers, the platform continues to demonstrate its potential to lead and define new trends in decentralized finance.
DeFi Agents AI’s Unique Features
DeFi Agents AI distinguishes itself with its ability to automate trading while maintaining a user-centric design. Its advanced AI algorithms analyze real-time market data to predict trends and execute trades efficiently.
The platform integrates with major exchanges, including Binance, OKX, and Bybit, allowing users to execute transactions securely and seamlessly without transferring funds to third-party platforms.
Future Developments for DeFi Agents AI
As the Mainnet launch draws closer, DeFi Agents AI is preparing to introduce new features aimed at enhancing the decentralized finance experience.
One key advancement is the introduction of the first-ever restaking layer, where users can stake $DEFAI to potentially benefit from profit sharing and additional rewards. Through staking, users will also receive AI training tickets, enabling them to contribute to the system’s development and create fully automated trading tools customized to their unique preferences.
“We’re not just building a trading assistant – we’re creating a smarter, safer future for DeFi,” said Ming, CEO of DeFi Agents AI.
In addition, the platform is expanding its ecosystem through collaborations with leading DeFi and AI innovators. These advancements reflect the platform’s commitment to integrating AI and DeFi to deliver innovative and accessible financial solutions
About DeFi Agents AI
DeFi Agents AI (DEFAI) is an AI-powered trading assistant that integrates automation, advanced analytics, and secure access to major exchanges to redefine how users engage with decentralized finance. With a mission to make crypto trading smarter and more accessible, DeFi Agents AI is set to define the next wave of innovation in blockchain technology.
Website: https://defiagents.ai.
Twitter / X: https://x.com/AIDeFiAgents
Telegram: https://t.me/defiagentsai
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Cryptocurrency
DOGE Price Hits $0.42 Monthly High as Dogecoin Whales Pile in
TL:DR;
- Dogecoin has joined the bull party with a massive surge over the past day that has taken it to its highest price tag in over a month.
- This comes amid the latest accumulation spree initiated by large investors known as whales.
Recall that the OG meme coin was hit hard during the broader market’s crash at the end of 2024, and its price tumbled from over $0.4 to $0.26 within days.
Since then, though, DOGE has been steadily rising and managed to defend the $0.3 support even during the latest correction that occurred at the start of the current business week.
Moreover, it bounced off in a spectacular fashion and jumped to $0.38 by Thursday. The bulls really stepped up on the gas pedal in the past several hours as they pushed its valuation to almost $0.42 for the first time since December 12.
Aside from the more obvious overall market resurgance, the other highly probable reason behind this impressive rally is the awakening of DOGE whales. Data shared by Ali Martinez shows that such large investors have accumulated 200 million tokens in the span of just 48 hours, which typically results in price increases due to the growing demand.
Whales have bought 200 million #Dogecoin $DOGE in the last 48 hours! pic.twitter.com/vYSI3C2cUs
— Ali (@ali_charts) January 16, 2025
Dogecoin could continue its rally in the following days and weeks, given the upcoming Trump inauguration. After all, Elon Musk, one of the biggest DOGE supporters, will lead a new administration under the president-elect called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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Cryptocurrency
Institutional Bitcoin Accumulation Surges on Coinbase as BTC Taps 10-Day High
Bitcoin is seeing institutional accumulation amidst fresh gains of over 3% on Friday as its price tapped $102,000.
In fact, CryptoQuant has observed a significant Bitcoin inflow to Coinbase Prime, pointing to increased over-the-counter (OTC) trading activity. This trend suggests heightened interest from US institutions, which prefer OTC trades as a method for large-scale Bitcoin accumulation to minimize market disruption.
Bitcoin Inflows to Coinbase Prime
The alert threshold, set at an inflow value exceeding $8 billion, has been surpassed, with the current value standing at over $14 billion. This significant inflow evidences a strong institutional interest, with OTC trading playing a crucial role in facilitating these transactions.
OTC trading involves direct, off-exchange transactions between buyers and sellers, typically facilitated by brokers or trading desks. This method allows institutions and high-net-worth individuals to execute large trades with minimal impact on the market.
According to Finery Markets’ 2024 Review, the cryptocurrency OTC market saw remarkable growth, with an annual rate of 106% last year. The report stated that 2024 was a transformative year for institutional and large-scale digital asset trading, spurred by macroeconomic trends and industry-specific factors.
This includes the launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the election of pro-crypto President Donald Trump, as well as the subsequent regulatory developments.
Meanwhile, CryptoQuant’s alert threshold was exceeded soon after Bitcoin touched $100,000 on Thursday – for the first time in 2025. This has prompted market experts to believe that the crypto asset could climb to a new ATH by late January.
Crypto as a National Priority?
After a modest correction, Bitcoin was back up and trading above $102,000 at the time of writing. This comes amidst reports of President-elect Donald Trump planning to issue an executive order making cryptocurrency a national priority soon after his Jan. 20 inauguration. The order aims to guide government agencies in collaborating with the industry and establishing a “crypto advisory council” to influence policy development.
It may also direct agencies to review existing digital asset regulations and pause ongoing crypto-related lawsuits, including high-profile cases involving Binance and Ripple Labs. Additionally, Trump’s administration is considering creating a national Bitcoin strategic reserve, potentially expanding to include U.S.-founded digital assets such as Solana, USD Coin, and Ripple’s XRP.
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