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Coinbase faces new lawsuit

Coinbase crypto exchange and its CEO, Brian Armstrong, face a new class-action lawsuit alleging investors were deceived into buying securities and claims the company’s business model is illegal.

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Coinbase crypto exchange and its CEO, Brian Armstrong, face a new class-action lawsuit alleging investors were deceived into buying securities and claims the company’s business model is illegal.

The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California San Francisco Division, representing plaintiffs Gerardo Aceves, Thomas Fan, Edwin Martinez, Tiffany Smoot, Edouard Cordi and Brett Maggard from California and Florida, alleges that Coinbase’s digital asset sales knowingly violated state securities laws since the company’s inception.

The complainants claim Coinbase admitted it is a “Securities Broker” in its user agreement, making digital asset securities sold by the exchange as investment contracts or other securities. They also claim Coinbase Prime brokerage is a securities broker.

The plaintiffs seek full rescission, statutory damages under state law and injunctive relief through a jury trial. This lawsuit resembles another class-action suit alleging consumer harm from Coinbase’s sale of securities.

Coinbase has argued that secondary crypto asset sales didn’t meet securities transaction criteria and disputed the relevance of securities regulations.

This new lawsuit is distinct from Coinbase’s highly publicized legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which also questions whether tokens sold on Coinbase should be classified as securities. Coinbase has recently filed an interlocutory appeal in response to a judge’s decision allowing the case to proceed.

In an April 26 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Deaton, the crypto lawyer currently running an election campaign to unseat Senator Elizabeth Warren, filed an amicus brief in support of a motion for interlocutory appeal on behalf of 4,701 Coinbase customers.

Coinbase reported a strong rebound in the first quarter of 2024, supported by an uptick in market performance and the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. The exchange posted $1.6 billion in total revenue and $1.2 billion in net income for the first quarter, achieving $1 billion in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

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Binance tightens South African compliance rules for crypto transfers

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Binance is tightening compliance measures for crypto transactions in South Africa, announcing it will fully implement the country’s Travel Rule requirements beginning January 2025. The move aligns with regulations set by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and reflects the exchange’s broader efforts to meet global anti-money laundering standards.

Under the new rules, Binance will require South African users to include verified personal information—such as names, addresses, and account details—when sending or receiving crypto between platforms. These changes are designed to increase transparency and traceability of digital asset transfers, making it harder for illicit actors to exploit decentralized networks.

Binance emphasized that users must complete know-your-customer (KYC) verification before transferring crypto to or from external wallets. Transfers to non-compliant platforms may be restricted or flagged, while internal transfers within Binance or to Travel Rule-compliant entities will remain unaffected.

The announcement follows South Africa’s decision in 2023 to designate crypto as a financial product, placing digital asset providers under the supervision of the FIC. The country has since taken steps to integrate crypto into its formal regulatory structure, including licensing requirements and mandatory reporting obligations.

With enforcement beginning in 2025, Binance urged users to familiarize themselves with the new procedures to avoid disruptions. The exchange also plans to provide additional guidance and tools to help users remain compliant as the deadline approaches.

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Ethereum bounces back as market dominance recovers from all-time low

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Ethereum has staged a notable recovery after recently experiencing its lowest market dominance since its early days. The turnaround comes as ETH surged nearly 4% in the past 24 hours, climbing back above the $3,100 mark and narrowing its underperformance gap relative to Bitcoin.

For much of 2024, Ethereum has trailed behind Bitcoin and a growing wave of altcoins, with its market share dropping below 15% — levels not seen since 2015. The slump was driven by investor focus on Bitcoin ETF momentum, lackluster institutional interest in ETH, and rising competition from layer-1 and layer-2 networks offering faster and cheaper alternatives.

Despite these challenges, Ethereum’s fundamentals remain strong. Data shows a healthy uptick in active addresses, transaction volumes, and total value locked in DeFi protocols built on Ethereum. Additionally, hopes remain high for the approval of a spot Ethereum ETF in the U.S., with analysts suggesting a potential turnaround in institutional flows if approved.

Traders are now watching whether this rebound signals a sustained trend reversal or just a temporary relief rally. With key upgrades and ecosystem developments still in the pipeline, Ethereum’s ability to regain dominance may hinge on reigniting both investor confidence and broader developer activity.

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SEC says it won’t re-file fraud case against Hex’s Richard Heart

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has confirmed it will not pursue a retrial in its fraud case against HEX founder Richard Heart, effectively bringing an end to one of the agency’s high-profile crypto enforcement actions.

The decision follows a recent court ruling that dismissed several key allegations against Heart, including claims that he misled investors and violated securities laws through the promotion and sale of HEX, PulseChain, and PulseX tokens. While the SEC initially signaled it would consider further legal options, it has now opted to forgo additional litigation.

Heart, a controversial figure in the crypto world, had long denied the SEC’s accusations, framing the lawsuit as an overreach by regulators. The agency had alleged that Heart raised over $1 billion from investors while misrepresenting how funds would be used and failing to register the offerings.

With the SEC stepping back, the dismissal marks a rare instance in which the regulator has chosen not to continue a crypto-related fraud case, potentially signaling a reassessment of its approach amid growing legal pushback and mounting scrutiny over its enforcement tactics.

Although the case is now closed, legal analysts suggest the outcome could influence future regulatory efforts and may embolden other crypto founders facing similar challenges. Heart, meanwhile, has positioned the development as a vindication, reaffirming his stance that HEX and related projects were never in violation of U.S. securities laws.

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