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$165 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme Mastermind Deported Back to U.S., Facing Federal Fraud Charges
According to Cointelegraph, Edward Zimbardi, the alleged mastermind behind a $165 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, was deported back to the United States by Fijian authorities recently after hiding in Fiji for over a year, following coordination between the FBI and the U.S. Department of State, and will appear for trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Prosecutors allege that between June 2022 and August 2023, he illegally raised over $165 million in crypto assets by promising investors a fixed monthly return of 25% under the name "The Crypto Program". The raised funds were not used for the promised ad package business, but were misappropriated for over $34 million in high-risk forex trading, repaying early investors with new funds, and at least $10 million in personal expenses, including purchasing real estate, luxury vehicles, and paying alimony. Zimbardi currently faces 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, and 1 count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, totaling 25 federal charges.
U.S. Federal Judge Rules Kalshi Sports Contracts Are Not Swaps, CFTC Lacks Exclusive Jurisdiction
Odaily News: Connecticut Federal District Court Judge Vernon D. Oliver denied Kalshi's motion for a preliminary injunction, ruling that its sports event contracts do not constitute swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC therefore does not hold exclusive jurisdiction. The ruling noted that sports event contracts account for 80% to 90% of Kalshi's listed contracts and revenue, and the CFTC has never reviewed any of these contracts under relevant special rules. Oliver held that event outcomes fall under the category of event results, not separate events. Coinbase Financial Markets suffered a similar defeat on the same grounds, having offered Kalshi contracts through its platform since January as a futures commission merchant rather than a designated contract market, and Connecticut had not previously issued a cease-and-desist order against it. Kalshi was valued at approximately $11 billion at the time of its February hearing, with around 24,000 users in the state. (Bitcoin.com News)
Multiple law enforcement agencies jointly oppose key provisions of the Clarity Act; negotiations continue
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
OpenAI Lawsuit: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Testifies in Court as Altman-Musk Dispute Escalates to Core Partnership Relations in the AI Giant
Odaily Odaily News: In the OpenAI lawsuit, Satya Nadella testified in court as Microsoft's CEO at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California. The case centers on the ongoing legal dispute over OpenAI's non-profit structure and its path to commercialization. The lawsuit, filed by Elon Musk in 2024, accuses Microsoft of "aiding and abetting the breach of charitable trust obligations" during OpenAI's transition from a non-profit organization to a commercial entity. Microsoft has been making strategic investments in OpenAI since 2019, with cumulative investments reaching approximately $13 billion by 2023, making it one of OpenAI's most important external supporters.During the trial, Satya Nadella reviewed the early partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, mentioning that the two parties had established deep technological and computing power collaboration before the launch of ChatGPT. In his earlier testimony, Musk stated that Microsoft's additional investment of approximately $10 billion in OpenAI in 2023 was the key turning point that prompted him to file the lawsuit, adding that the scale of the investment altered OpenAI's original non-profit-oriented structure. During the trial, Musk stated: "We are concerned they are turning a charitable organization into a commercial tool." He also questioned Microsoft's potential dominant position in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and pointed out that its deep integration with OpenAI could impact the competitive landscape of the industry.The case is currently still under trial, and the debate surrounding OpenAI's governance structure, non-profit status, and control over the AI industry is expected to continue. (CNBC)
New York State Attorney General Joins 17 States in Opposing CLARITY Act
According to the official website of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, New York Attorney General Letitia James, joining attorneys general from 17 states including Arizona and California as well as the District of Columbia, formally opposed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (Clarity Act) in a September 14 letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren. The coalition warned that the bill would undermine states’ law enforcement authority to combat cryptocurrency fraud, grant the SEC unilateral power superseding state registration authorities, and potentially destabilize the existing state securities regulatory framework. FBI data shows that losses from cryptocurrency-related complaints reached $11.4 billion in 2025, a 22% year-over-year increase; New York reported nearly $500 million in crypto fraud losses over the past five years. The attorneys general urged Congress to amend the legislation to explicitly preserve states’ law enforcement and registration regulatory authority over digital assets, and to strengthen law enforcement cooperation mechanisms between federal and state governments.
3 Insider Trading Investigations Approved, CFTC Involves Polymarket Biden Pardon, Iran War, and Google Contracts
Odaily News: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has previously secretly approved 3 insider trading investigations into Polymarket trading, involving Biden pardon, Iran war, and Google-related event contracts. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig approved an investigation in May into contracts related to the Biden pardon, after a trader had profited over $300,000 from the related market; in the same month, the CFTC also approved an investigation into Iran war contracts, after a group of suspicious accounts was exposed for profiting $2.4 million with a win rate of approximately 98%. In July, the CFTC further launched an investigation into Google-related Polymarket contracts, focusing on individuals who may have used non-public information about Google's 2025 search rankings to trade. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is also conducting a parallel investigation, and Polymarket stated that it has referred the relevant matters to law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation.
Hyperliquid Policy Center filed documents with the court seeking to dismiss CME Group's lawsuit against the CFTC.
According to Hyperliquid News, the Hyperliquid Policy Center has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The lawsuit concerns the CFTC's prior approval of regulated cryptocurrency perpetual contracts through Kalshi in the United States. CME had previously challenged that regulatory decision in court, and the Hyperliquid Policy Center now supports the CFTC, arguing that the court should dismiss CME's lawsuit.
Eleanor Terrett: The National Sheriffs' Association shifts to a neutral stance, removing another obstacle to the CLARITY Act vote on September 15
Odaily News – Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett stated that the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) has adjusted its position on the CLARITY Act from opposition to neutral, becoming the last major police organization to change its stance among those that previously opposed the bill. Terrett noted that as recently as July 31, the NSA had called the bill "harmful" and strongly criticized the BRCA's provisions protecting non-custodial software developers. This shift likely reflects extensive behind-the-scenes communication between the White House and the organization over the past few months. While the NSA's move to neutral does not constitute formal support for the bill, it is widely seen as clearing yet another hurdle on its path to the Senate procedural vote on September 15.Terrett added that the National District Attorneys Association and the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys are still expected to hold their positions, with both demanding a significant narrowing of the BRCA's protections for non-custodial software developers. However, the White House, the Treasury Department, some members of Congress, and the crypto industry are all unwilling to accept such changes. Additionally, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who previously supported the prosecutors' proposed amendments, has not yet publicly changed her stance.
USDT Frozen Three Months Early: 42.4178 Million USDT Seized, Tether Sued by Two Thai Businessmen
According to Odaily, two Thai businessmen, Nutthawat Rukthammachalern and Natthawat Kasamvilas, have filed a lawsuit against stablecoin issuer Tether in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging that Tether blacklisted 42.4178 million USDT. The lawsuit was filed on August 31 and refiled the following day. On-chain records show that 10 Ethereum addresses were batch-frozen on October 30, 2025, within a span of two and a half minutes, while the seizure order cited in the lawsuit is dated February 19, 2026—a gap of more than three months. The plaintiffs claim they purchased USDT on the secondary market and had no contractual relationship with Tether. The complaint alleges that Tether acted at the informal request of the U.S. government, conveyed through Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, before the seizure order was issued. On November 2, 2025, Tether informed Natthawat Kasamvilas that it had "no further information," without disclosing that it had already frozen the funds on its own initiative. The lawsuit asserts five causes of action, including conversion, trover, and unjust enrichment. The defendants are four Tether entities: Tether Holdings, Tether International, Tether Operations, and Tether Investments. The case is presided over by Judge Lewis J. Liman. Tether has previously stated that its cooperation with law enforcement has resulted in the cumulative freezing of over $4.4 billion in assets, with more than $2.1 billion of that total linked to U.S. authorities.
Kalshi suspends Republican House candidate Laurie Buckhout for three years over betting on her own election
Odaily Odaily News The prediction market exchange Kalshi has suspended North Carolina Republican House candidate Laurie Buckhout from trading for three years due to her trading of contracts related to her own congressional election. The settlement took effect on Friday, and she is also required to pay a fine of $2,589.96.During her campaign against Democratic Rep. Don Davis for North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Buckhout purchased related contracts worth less than $1,000. Under Kalshi's rules, candidates are considered persons with direct decision-making influence over outcomes and are prohibited from trading related contracts.Kalshi has previously suspended Minnesota Senator Matt Klein, former Texas congressional candidate Ezekiel Enriquez, and Virginia Senate candidate Mark Moran for five years each over candidates betting on their own elections. Former Rep. George Santos was permanently banned for trading contracts related to his own attendance at the State of the Union address and was fined $71,356.Buckhout won the Republican primary in March of this year and will face Don Davis again in the election; she previously lost by less than two percentage points in 2024. Kalshi is regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and has processed tens of billions of dollars in trading volume over the past year. (Decrypt)
3 Insider Trading Investigations Approved, CFTC Involves Polymarket Biden Pardon, Iran War, and Google Contracts
Odaily News: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has previously secretly approved 3 insider trading investigations into Polymarket trading, involving Biden pardon, Iran war, and Google-related event contracts. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig approved an investigation in May into contracts related to the Biden pardon, after a trader had profited over $300,000 from the related market; in the same month, the CFTC also approved an investigation into Iran war contracts, after a group of suspicious accounts was exposed for profiting $2.4 million with a win rate of approximately 98%. In July, the CFTC further launched an investigation into Google-related Polymarket contracts, focusing on individuals who may have used non-public information about Google's 2025 search rankings to trade. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is also conducting a parallel investigation, and Polymarket stated that it has referred the relevant matters to law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation.
Hong Kong Court Sentences Telecom Fraud "Middleman" to 56 Months in Prison: Police Track Cryptocurrency to Trace Ransom Flow
According to a report by Caixin, the Hong Kong High Court of Appeal rejected the sentence reduction application of Ma Zhihao, the ringleader of an online fraud and human trafficking syndicate, yesterday, upholding the original 56-month imprisonment term. During the investigation, Hong Kong police traced the criminal funds through blockchain and cryptocurrency transaction records, pinpointing key transactions involving his receipt of ransoms and illicit proceeds. It is reported that the family members of a victim paid approximately 9,527 Tether (USDT) to a cryptocurrency wallet designated by the perpetrators. Blockchain tracking records conclusively proved that 8,127 USDT flowed into an exchange account registered under Ma Zhihao’s real name and Hong Kong identity card. The assets were subsequently converted into approximately HK$63,000 and transferred to his personal HSBC bank account, serving as crucial evidence of his participation in the crimes and his financial gains. The Court of Appeal noted that, were it not constrained by the seven-year maximum sentencing limit prescribed for the District Court, the penalties faced by the defendant would have been significantly more severe.
Korea Sentences Fraud Case Under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act: Mastermind of Meme Coin "Rug Pull" Gets 4 Years in Prison
: South Korea today sentenced a fraud case involving unfair trading terms under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act in its first-instance trial. The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Park, a cryptocurrency influencer who planned a Meme coin "Rug Pull" scam, to four years in prison. Two accomplices received sentences of two years and six months, and three years in prison with five years of probation, respectively.Prosecutors stated that the defendant issued a Meme coin through Pump.fun and used social media to spread false bullish information, such as "token lock-ups," inflating the coin's price approximately 1,001 times within 26 hours. This attracted about 6,000 investors to buy in, after which the group dumped their holdings to cash out. The gang spent only about 10 million Korean won on the scheme and illegally profited around 400 million Korean won. (Edaily)
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
Argentine judge orders freeze on wallets linked to Libra, involving $8.2 million in funds
Argentine Federal Judge Marcelo Martinez ordered the identification and freezing of a group of wallets linked to Libra, after the Federal Police Cybercrime Technical Department tracked the flow of related funds across multiple crypto networks since May. The investigation involves 8 wallets labeled "Libra team," which are directly connected to the token issuance.The report shows that 4 of these wallets had funneled nearly $57 million to an address, which was previously frozen and then unfrozen by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On May 10, related funds were transferred to a Tron address via an interoperability protocol, with the amount close to $500,000. At least 10 out of 17 transactions passed through Binance, while another 8 wallets are associated with Bybit, 2 with OKX, and 2 with Bitfinex. Some users involved in the $8.2 million in funds could potentially be identified through the KYC rules of centralized exchanges. The remaining funds are currently managed by Libra Trust, which plans to distribute them as grants to Argentine companies by November. There are already 71 applications pending approval.
CFTC Charges North Carolina Man in $14 Million Crypto and Futures Fraud Scheme
Odaily, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against North Carolina resident Trevor Vernon and his company, Argent Capital Management LLC, accusing them of defrauding approximately 60 investors out of a total of $14 million through a fraudulent commodity pool.According to the complaint filed by the CFTC on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the commodity pool operated by Vernon and his company involved trading in multiple asset classes, including stock index futures options, stock index futures contracts, and crypto assets.The CFTC alleges that Vernon misled investors by portraying himself as a "successful trader" through quarterly financial updates and monthly performance review emails. In reality, however, he incurred substantial losses while trading with investor funds.The regulator stated that Vernon suffered cumulative losses of at least $8.6 million from trading futures, options, and crypto assets. The CFTC claims that his actual trading results were marked by "consistent and catastrophic losses," which significantly contradicted the profitability he presented to investors.
Bybit officially sues North Korea and hacker group Lazarus Group, successfully obtains preliminary injunction to freeze stolen assets
Odaily News, Bybit announced today that it has officially filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against North Korea (DPRK), its Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), and the Lazarus Group, holding the organization legally accountable for the大规模 cyberattack launched against Bybit in February 2025.It is reported that Bybit has successfully obtained a preliminary injunction from the court, freezing identified stolen digital assets held or transferred by unidentified individuals and entities (i.e., "John Doe" defendants). In approving the preliminary temporary restraining order, the court described the incident as "one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history" and determined that Bybit has a "likelihood of success on the merits" of the case. This civil lawsuit is independent of criminal investigations by U.S. law enforcement and aims to provide an additional legal avenue for asset recovery.In terms of asset recovery and global collaboration, Bybit has achieved notable results in partnership with blockchain analytics firms, multiple exchanges, custodial institutions, and international law enforcement agencies. To date:Approximately $48.4 million in stolen assets have been successfully recovered;Approximately $30.5 million in involved assets have been successfully frozen (distributed across more than 28 exchanges and custodial institutions).These efforts have also supported broader law enforcement actions targeting key infrastructure allegedly used to launder stolen funds: German authorities have dismantled cryptocurrency exchange eXch; German and Swiss authorities subsequently jointly shut down mixing platform Cryptomixer.io, cutting off critical channels for transferring illicit proceeds. These actions collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement agencies in combating transnational cybercrime.Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, stated: "Our core goal has never changed: prioritizing user protection, making every effort to recover assets, and ensuring those behind this are held accountable under the law. The Lazarus attack was not only directed at Bybit, but also a challenge to the trust foundation of the entire crypto industry. We will continue to deepen cooperation with law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and courts to make the crypto world a place where criminals find it difficult to hide."Bybit emphasized that it will continue to invest in advanced blockchain tracking technology, utilize all available legal means to combat state-sponsored hacker groups, and drive the establishment of a more resilient digital asset ecosystem. The civil lawsuit is currently ongoing.
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
US Department of Justice indicts two Chinese citizens suspected of laundering over $43 million for "pig butchering" scams
According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York Office of the United States Attorney, two Chinese citizens, Zhuoying Chen (aka "Jolene", 27, Brooklyn) and Haojie Zhang (aka "Kevin", 38, Queens), were formally indicted on July 16 at the Brooklyn Federal Court on charges of conspiracy to launder money. According to the allegations, between 2020 and 2022, the two managed a money laundering network of more than ten people in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, using approximately 45 shell companies and 140 corporate bank accounts to transfer at least $43 million in proceeds from "pig butchering" investment fraud to accounts within China. "Pig butchering" scams contact victims through social media or instant messaging software, gaining trust with false high-return investment opportunities before absconding with the funds. This case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, IRS-CI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. If convicted, the two defendants each face up to 20 years in prison.
Coinbase assists Brooklyn District Attorney in combating impersonation scam, involving approximately $16 million
Coinbase officially stated it is cooperating with the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office in New York to assist in investigating a long-term impersonation scam targeting platform users and supporting victims in recovering funds.According to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, a Brooklyn man has been charged with long-term impersonation of Coinbase customer service. Using social engineering tactics, he tricked users into believing their accounts had been compromised and instructed them to transfer funds to a "secure wallet," subsequently moving and stealing the funds. The case involves approximately 100 victims, with the total amount involved nearing $16 million. Over $600,000 has been recovered so far.Coinbase stated that this type of scam does not stem from platform security vulnerabilities but is a social engineering attack exploiting user trust and a sense of urgency. Common methods include identity forgery, impersonating customer service, and creating panic over account risks. The company stated it has cooperated with law enforcement agencies to complete various investigative tasks, including identifying suspects, assisting with victim notifications, providing data support for legal requests, and conducting on-chain fund tracing. It emphasized that blockchain traceability helps law enforcement track the flow of funds.Coinbase also reminded users that the platform will never ask them to transfer funds to a "secure wallet" or request 2FA codes, seed phrases, or password reset links. It recommends that users only contact customer service through official in-app channels. The company will continue to strengthen its anti-fraud mechanisms, user education, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to address increasingly sophisticated crypto asset fraud activities.
Multiple law enforcement agencies jointly oppose key provisions of the Clarity Act; negotiations continue
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies Jointly Warn That the “Clarity Act” Could Weaken Investigations into Cryptocurrency Crimes
According to The Block, four major U.S. law enforcement organizations—the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association—jointly wrote to the Department of Justice and the White House, warning that Section 604 of the “Clarity Act” (i.e., the “Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act”) contains regulatory loopholes. This provision offers a “safe harbor” exemption for non-custodial developers; law enforcement agencies contend that it could shield individuals or entities assisting in the transfer of crypto assets, hinder investigations and prosecutions of crypto-related crimes, and weaken the existing anti-money laundering framework.
Hyperliquid Policy Center filed documents with the court seeking to dismiss CME Group's lawsuit against the CFTC.
According to Hyperliquid News, the Hyperliquid Policy Center has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The lawsuit concerns the CFTC's prior approval of regulated cryptocurrency perpetual contracts through Kalshi in the United States. CME had previously challenged that regulatory decision in court, and the Hyperliquid Policy Center now supports the CFTC, arguing that the court should dismiss CME's lawsuit.
Eleanor Terrett: The National Sheriffs' Association shifts to a neutral stance, removing another obstacle to the CLARITY Act vote on September 15
Odaily News – Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett stated that the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) has adjusted its position on the CLARITY Act from opposition to neutral, becoming the last major police organization to change its stance among those that previously opposed the bill. Terrett noted that as recently as July 31, the NSA had called the bill "harmful" and strongly criticized the BRCA's provisions protecting non-custodial software developers. This shift likely reflects extensive behind-the-scenes communication between the White House and the organization over the past few months. While the NSA's move to neutral does not constitute formal support for the bill, it is widely seen as clearing yet another hurdle on its path to the Senate procedural vote on September 15.Terrett added that the National District Attorneys Association and the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys are still expected to hold their positions, with both demanding a significant narrowing of the BRCA's protections for non-custodial software developers. However, the White House, the Treasury Department, some members of Congress, and the crypto industry are all unwilling to accept such changes. Additionally, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who previously supported the prosecutors' proposed amendments, has not yet publicly changed her stance.
U.S. Judge Rules Department of Defense Blacklisting of Anthropic Unlawful
According to The New York Times, Judge Rita Lin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a 59-page ruling on August 27 local time, finding that the Trump administration’s designation of AI startup Anthropic as a security risk and its ban on the company’s participation in government contracts were unlawful. The judge noted that the government’s actions constituted retaliation for Anthropic’s constitutionally protected speech—specifically, the company’s firm opposition to its technology being used for the mass surveillance of American citizens or in the field of autonomous lethal weapons. The ruling stated, "A hollow invocation of national security cannot serve as a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics."
Bithumb Wins First Instance in First Lawsuit Over Mistakenly Sent BTC
According to South Korean media outlet Digital Asset, the Seoul Central District Court ruled on August 27 that Bithumb won an unjust enrichment restitution lawsuit against a user, ordering them to return the proceeds from the sale of mistakenly sent Bitcoin. The case involves approximately 194 million KRW and is one of four independent lawsuits filed by Bithumb following a February BTC mis-issuance incident this year; the amounts involved in the remaining cases are approximately 500 million KRW, 14.8 million KRW, and 5 million KRW, respectively. Previously, Bithumb had mistakenly distributed 620,000 BTC to users as part of an activity reward program and subsequently launched a recovery initiative. In March, the exchange reported to the National Assembly that nearly 99% of the remaining unrecovered 1,788 BTC had been successfully reclaimed. The first ruling, which affirms the exchange's right to recover proceeds from the sale of mistakenly issued assets, may increase the likelihood of Bithumb prevailing in the other three cases.
Unitree Robotics: 10% of Shares Allocated to Offline Investors Will Be Locked Up for 6 Months
Odaily News Unitree Robotics today released the announcement regarding the online issuance subscription and lottery result for its initial public offering of shares on the STAR Market. The announcement disclosed that after the strategic placement adjustment, the offline issuance volume is 25,886,148 shares, accounting for approximately 80.00% of the issuance volume after deducting the final strategic placement quantity. This offline issuance adopts a proportional lock-up method, where offline investors must commit that 10% of their allocated shares (rounded up) will be subject to a lock-up period of 6 months from the date of the issuer's initial public offering and listing. Specifically, for the shares allocated to each placement object, 90% of the shares have no lock-up period and can be traded immediately upon listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange; the remaining 10% of shares will be locked up for 6 months, with the lock-up period commencing from the date the shares are listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.Unitree Robotics also announced that the issuer and the lead underwriter (sponsor) have scheduled the online issuance lottery drawing ceremony for the morning of August 11, 2026 (T+1 day) at Room 707, North Tower, Shanghai Securities Building, No. 528 South Pudong Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai. The results of the online lottery drawing will be announced on August 12, 2026 (T+2 day).
Bybit officially sues North Korea and hacker group Lazarus Group, successfully obtains preliminary injunction to freeze stolen assets
Odaily News, Bybit announced today that it has officially filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against North Korea (DPRK), its Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), and the Lazarus Group, holding the organization legally accountable for the大规模 cyberattack launched against Bybit in February 2025.It is reported that Bybit has successfully obtained a preliminary injunction from the court, freezing identified stolen digital assets held or transferred by unidentified individuals and entities (i.e., "John Doe" defendants). In approving the preliminary temporary restraining order, the court described the incident as "one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history" and determined that Bybit has a "likelihood of success on the merits" of the case. This civil lawsuit is independent of criminal investigations by U.S. law enforcement and aims to provide an additional legal avenue for asset recovery.In terms of asset recovery and global collaboration, Bybit has achieved notable results in partnership with blockchain analytics firms, multiple exchanges, custodial institutions, and international law enforcement agencies. To date:Approximately $48.4 million in stolen assets have been successfully recovered;Approximately $30.5 million in involved assets have been successfully frozen (distributed across more than 28 exchanges and custodial institutions).These efforts have also supported broader law enforcement actions targeting key infrastructure allegedly used to launder stolen funds: German authorities have dismantled cryptocurrency exchange eXch; German and Swiss authorities subsequently jointly shut down mixing platform Cryptomixer.io, cutting off critical channels for transferring illicit proceeds. These actions collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement agencies in combating transnational cybercrime.Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, stated: "Our core goal has never changed: prioritizing user protection, making every effort to recover assets, and ensuring those behind this are held accountable under the law. The Lazarus attack was not only directed at Bybit, but also a challenge to the trust foundation of the entire crypto industry. We will continue to deepen cooperation with law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and courts to make the crypto world a place where criminals find it difficult to hide."Bybit emphasized that it will continue to invest in advanced blockchain tracking technology, utilize all available legal means to combat state-sponsored hacker groups, and drive the establishment of a more resilient digital asset ecosystem. The civil lawsuit is currently ongoing.
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According to the official website of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, New York Attorney General Letitia James, joining attorneys general from 17 states including Arizona and California as well as the District of Columbia, formally opposed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (Clarity Act) in a September 14 letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren. The coalition warned that the bill would undermine states’ law enforcement authority to combat cryptocurrency fraud, grant the SEC unilateral power superseding state registration authorities, and potentially destabilize the existing state securities regulatory framework. FBI data shows that losses from cryptocurrency-related complaints reached $11.4 billion in 2025, a 22% year-over-year increase; New York reported nearly $500 million in crypto fraud losses over the past five years. The attorneys general urged Congress to amend the legislation to explicitly preserve states’ law enforcement and registration regulatory authority over digital assets, and to strengthen law enforcement cooperation mechanisms between federal and state governments.
3 Insider Trading Investigations Approved, CFTC Involves Polymarket Biden Pardon, Iran War, and Google Contracts
Odaily News: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has previously secretly approved 3 insider trading investigations into Polymarket trading, involving Biden pardon, Iran war, and Google-related event contracts. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig approved an investigation in May into contracts related to the Biden pardon, after a trader had profited over $300,000 from the related market; in the same month, the CFTC also approved an investigation into Iran war contracts, after a group of suspicious accounts was exposed for profiting $2.4 million with a win rate of approximately 98%. In July, the CFTC further launched an investigation into Google-related Polymarket contracts, focusing on individuals who may have used non-public information about Google's 2025 search rankings to trade. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is also conducting a parallel investigation, and Polymarket stated that it has referred the relevant matters to law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation.
Unicoin sues Uniswap Labs, seeking cancellation of UNI trademark registration
According to Cointelegraph, TransparentBusiness Inc. (operating as Unicoin) has filed a lawsuit against Universal Navigation Inc. (operating as Uniswap Labs) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking a court declaration that its UNICOIN trademark does not infringe upon or dilute the UNI, UNISWAP, and UNICHAIN trademarks claimed by Uniswap, and requesting the cancellation of UNI's trademark registration in the United States.
Hyperliquid Policy Center filed documents with the court seeking to dismiss CME Group's lawsuit against the CFTC.
According to Hyperliquid News, the Hyperliquid Policy Center has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The lawsuit concerns the CFTC's prior approval of regulated cryptocurrency perpetual contracts through Kalshi in the United States. CME had previously challenged that regulatory decision in court, and the Hyperliquid Policy Center now supports the CFTC, arguing that the court should dismiss CME's lawsuit.
Eleanor Terrett: The National Sheriffs' Association shifts to a neutral stance, removing another obstacle to the CLARITY Act vote on September 15
Odaily News – Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett stated that the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) has adjusted its position on the CLARITY Act from opposition to neutral, becoming the last major police organization to change its stance among those that previously opposed the bill. Terrett noted that as recently as July 31, the NSA had called the bill "harmful" and strongly criticized the BRCA's provisions protecting non-custodial software developers. This shift likely reflects extensive behind-the-scenes communication between the White House and the organization over the past few months. While the NSA's move to neutral does not constitute formal support for the bill, it is widely seen as clearing yet another hurdle on its path to the Senate procedural vote on September 15.Terrett added that the National District Attorneys Association and the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys are still expected to hold their positions, with both demanding a significant narrowing of the BRCA's protections for non-custodial software developers. However, the White House, the Treasury Department, some members of Congress, and the crypto industry are all unwilling to accept such changes. Additionally, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who previously supported the prosecutors' proposed amendments, has not yet publicly changed her stance.
USDT Frozen Three Months Early: 42.4178 Million USDT Seized, Tether Sued by Two Thai Businessmen
According to Odaily, two Thai businessmen, Nutthawat Rukthammachalern and Natthawat Kasamvilas, have filed a lawsuit against stablecoin issuer Tether in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging that Tether blacklisted 42.4178 million USDT. The lawsuit was filed on August 31 and refiled the following day. On-chain records show that 10 Ethereum addresses were batch-frozen on October 30, 2025, within a span of two and a half minutes, while the seizure order cited in the lawsuit is dated February 19, 2026—a gap of more than three months. The plaintiffs claim they purchased USDT on the secondary market and had no contractual relationship with Tether. The complaint alleges that Tether acted at the informal request of the U.S. government, conveyed through Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, before the seizure order was issued. On November 2, 2025, Tether informed Natthawat Kasamvilas that it had "no further information," without disclosing that it had already frozen the funds on its own initiative. The lawsuit asserts five causes of action, including conversion, trover, and unjust enrichment. The defendants are four Tether entities: Tether Holdings, Tether International, Tether Operations, and Tether Investments. The case is presided over by Judge Lewis J. Liman. Tether has previously stated that its cooperation with law enforcement has resulted in the cumulative freezing of over $4.4 billion in assets, with more than $2.1 billion of that total linked to U.S. authorities.