As markets, clients, and business observers proceed to dissect the U.S. Securities and Change Fee’s (SEC) in depth lawsuit in opposition to cryptocurrency large Binance and its associates, stunning new particulars are regularly coming to mild.
Among the many sudden revelations buried throughout the 136-page criticism is that Binance.US. had a major relationship with Alameda Analysis by way of its over-the-counter buying and selling desk.
This element, tucked away on web page 55, exposes a beforehand under-the-radar hyperlink between two main entities within the cryptocurrency world, including one other layer of intrigue to the authorized battle.
The SEC this week makes a single reference to Alameda Analysis on web page 55, stating the agency was usually the one counterparty for Binance.US’s OTC trades between Could 2020 and February 2022.
Whereas this disclosure doesn’t straight implicate Alameda Analysis or its CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, in any wrongdoing in regard to the Binance go well with, its inclusion within the criticism in opposition to Binance and its affiliate corporations is unlikely to be unintentional or immaterial.
The inclusion of Alameda Analysis within the criticism is especially notable given the agency’s current authorized troubles. Alameda, the sister firm of cryptocurrency change FTX, has come beneath scrutiny in current months. Its CEO, Caroline Ellison, has already pleaded responsible to fees of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud, amongst different offenses. Bankman-Fried is at present awaiting trial.
The SEC doc reveals that Binance.US’s OTC Desk noticed over $654 million in trades in 2021, serving primarily institutional merchants for big quantity crypto asset and fiat pair trades. The report additionally particulars the involvement of Alameda Analysis as a frequent counterparty for these trades by way of the platform’s OTC Desk.
Alameda Analysis’s inclusion within the SEC’s criticism underscores the extent to which crypto corporations and exchanges do enterprise with each other. As authorities worldwide step up their oversight of digital asset markets, the business is going through growing strain to enhance compliance with monetary laws.
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