Enforcement Actions

In brief The U.S. Secret Service is working with authorities in the United Kingdom and Canada to stop crypto fraud. Dubbed "Operation Atlantic," the agencies will work together to try and stop "approval phishing" or "pig butchering" scams that are often tied to crypto. More than $17

Blockfills has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 15, 2026, after pausing deposits and withdrawals over financial concerns since Feb. 11. A Protracted Liquidity Crisis Institutional cryptocurrency trading firm Blockfills has officially filed for voluntary Chapter 11 ban

Bitcoin mining company HIVE is gradually reducing its mining operations in Sweden due to tax disputes and operational uncertainty. Simultaneously, through BUZZ company, it is expanding its liquid-cooled AI data center capacity in Canada by four times. Despite gaining legal support, Swedish authorities are still requiring it to pay disputed tax deposits.

French police arrested two minors and a 35-year-old man on March 16th for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery targeting cryptocurrency holders on March 10th. The case involves two robbery and theft incidents. Police deployed approximately 100 armed officers in pursuit and recovered stolen goods. All three individuals have been charged.

An Israeli Times reporter faced harassment and death threats for accurately covering Iran's missile attack, with threateners attempting to coerce report modifications due to failed bets. The reporter has filed a complaint, stating commitment to professional ethics while expressing concern that others could be tempted.

U.S., U.K., and Canadian law enforcement agencies jointly launched "Operation Atlantic" to combat "approval phishing" scams targeting cryptocurrency users. Cryptocurrency fraud is expected to generate nearly $17 billion in illicit proceeds in 2025. The operation aims to identify victims, alert potential victims, and trace stolen assets.

South Korea's financial intelligence unit imposed a 6-month partial shutdown and a 368 billion won fine on a certain CEX for violating anti-money laundering obligations. The inspection found numerous regulatory violations and customer identification issues. During this period, existing user transactions were not affected, but virtual asset transfers for new users were restricted.

BlockFills filed Chapter 11 after reporting $50–$100M in assets against $100–$500M in liabilities. The firm suspended client withdrawals in February as liquidity pressures and a $75M loss emerged. A Dominion Capital lawsuit alleging asset misappropriation led to a court order freezing

The Seoul Central District Court in South Korea rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the Flow Foundation and Dapper Labs against three exchanges, supporting their termination of FLOW trading. The court determined that there was insufficient evidence and prioritized investor protection. FLOW remains tradable on Korbit, but has been delisted from the other three exchanges.

Institutional crypto trading and lending firm BlockFills has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, marking the latest setback for the digital asset lending sector after weeks of operational turmoil. In a statement shared on X on March 16, the company said that after

The U.S. FBI is investigating 8 PC games on the Steam platform that are suspected of containing malware, primarily targeting users who downloaded them between 2024 and 2026. Victims can submit information through the FBI to receive compensation. This incident demonstrates that Steam's massive user base makes it a target for malicious attacks, and cryptocurrency assets are becoming a primary target of such attacks.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) withdrew its lawsuit against Nader Al-Naji on March 16, ending a two-year legal dispute and marking a shift in the crypto regulatory environment. The withdrawal was partly based on the SEC's reassessment of its regulatory framework and evidence, but does not affect other cases. Al-Naji was accused of using funds raised through BitClout for personal expenses and has now reached a settlement. This matter demonstrates a gradual shift in the U.S. crypto regulatory approach.

Chicago-based cryptocurrency trading company BlockFills and its parent company Reliz Ltd. recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with U.S. courts due to ongoing financial difficulties and liquidity issues. The company's assets are estimated between $50 million and $100 million, while liabilities reach $500 million, indicating severe financial pressure. The company previously suspended customer deposit and withdrawal services due to liquidity shortages and faced court-imposed asset restrictions due to litigation over misappropriation of funds. The bankruptcy filing aims to reorganize cash flows and maintain transparency. This incident highlights structural vulnerabilities in the cryptocurrency lending market.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigation shows that 23% of Gen Z hold cryptocurrency, and 64% trust AI platforms as sources of financial information. Despite their widespread reliance on social media for financial knowledge, they may face unrealistic investment expectations and fraud risks. ASIC is strengthening regulation of these emerging financial channels.

The U.S. Senate passed a housing bill 89-10 that bans the issuance of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) before 2031 and promotes the development of private stablecoin markets. The bill has sparked disagreement between the two chambers over the duration of the ban, with the House of Representatives hoping for a permanent prohibition. Despite strong support, there remains uncertainty and political variables in subsequent negotiations in the House.

BlockFills, a Chicago-based cryptocurrency OTC trading platform, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to $75 million in lending losses and has suspended customer withdrawals, leaving approximately 2,000 institutional clients in distress. Following the CEO's departure, creditors have filed lawsuits, the court has frozen certain assets, and experts believe the company is headed directly toward insolvency.

The Korean Financial Commission will deliberate on penalties against CEX A on March 16 for suspected violations of anti-money laundering obligations, with potential fines of 37 billion Korean won, which are heavier than those imposed on another exchange, CEX B.

Cryptocurrency lending platform BlockFills filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the Delaware bankruptcy court on March 16, with estimated assets between $50 million and $100 million and liabilities between $100 million and $500 million. The company stated that this action will help stabilize operations, seek liquidity, and protect customer interests.

Argentina's President Milei is accused of involvement in a $5 million payment agreement linked to promoting the Libra token. The investigation revealed connections with Kelsier Ventures CEO Hayden Davis and intensive communications between Milei and Davis before the publication of relevant posts. Despite Milei's confirmation that there was no misconduct, related documents and call records have triggered a federal criminal investigation into his conduct.

An alleged draft for a $5 million economic agreement to secure the support of Argentine President Javier Milei for the people behind Libra has been recovered from a seized phone. The document indicates that an undetermined party would receive this money in three tranches. $5 Million Pact Draft