Connect with us

News

Sam Bankman-Fried will get one day in court to meet with lawyers

A federal judge overseeing former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried’s criminal case has issued an order allowing Sam Bankman-Fried to meet with his legal team outside of jail for roughly seven hours.

Published

on

A federal judge overseeing former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried’s criminal case has issued an order allowing Sam Bankman-Fried to meet with his legal team outside of jail for roughly seven hours.

In an Aug. 21 filing of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that SBF will be allowed to meet with his counsel in the cell block attorney room at the courthouse on Aug. 22 regarding one of his scheduled hearings. Kaplan ordered SBF’s bail revoked on Aug. 11, sending the former FTX CEO to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, likely until the conclusion of his criminal trials.

According to the order, SBF will be allowed access to “one Internet-enabled laptop and one WiFi device” from roughly 8:30 AM EST until 3:00 PM while meeting with counsel. His lawyers had petitioned the court to release SBF for five days every week through his trials in order for him to prepare for the case. However, Kaplan’s order suggested only a one-time release within the confines of the courthouse on Aug. 22, with another decision likely pending based on a response from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bankman-Fried’s first of two trials is scheduled to begin on Oct. 2, in which he will face seven charges related to fraud at FTX. The latest superseding indictment filed by prosecutors on Aug. 14 said they will consider SBF’s alleged violations campaign finance scheme as part of a wire fraud charge. He will face five other charges at his other trial scheduled for March 2024.

Before his $250-million bail was revoked, Bankman-Fried was largely confined to his parents’ home in California. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Business

Binance tightens South African compliance rules for crypto transfers

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Business

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Business

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 cryptonews.lk