In a notable operation targeting the cryptocurrency market in the US, serious charges have been brought against 10 executives and employees of four different "market maker" companies. According to indictments released by the Department of Justice, those affiliated with Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian are accused of conducting "wash trading" and organized pump-and-dump schemes to artificially inflate trading volume and prices. Authorities state that these activities were not limited to market manipulation but also involved misleading investors into buying crypto assets at inflated prices. It is reported that numerous investors, particularly in the US and other countries, suffered losses as a result of this process.
According to the statements, the investigation emerged from a covert operation conducted jointly by the FBI and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Federal agents created their own crypto tokens to expose the illegal services offered by market maker firms. Through transactions conducted using these tokens, it was determined that some companies inflated their trading volume through fraudulent buy-sell transactions. Wash trading refers to the repeated buying and selling of the same asset to create the perception of demand and liquidity that does not actually exist in the market. The artificial volume created by this method attracts the attention of investors; it creates the impression that the asset is "popular" and pushes prices up. However, since this rise is not sustainable, the process usually ends in sharp declines. According to the information in the indictments, the accused individuals come from different countries; names from countries such as Russia, India, Taiwan and Serbia are included in the file.
It was stated that three defendants were extradited from Singapore to the US as part of the investigation and appeared before a judge for the first time in a federal court in Oakland. It is noteworthy that two CEOs are among those extradited. It was also announced that some defendants had pleaded guilty and been sentenced by the court during the previous investigation process.
$1 million worth of assets seized
Authorities announced that more than $1 million worth of crypto assets have been seized so far as part of the operation. If the charges are accepted by the court, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each offense.
The case file specifically mentions that Gotbit has previously faced similar charges and sanctions in previous operations. This indicates that some market makers have been systematically using similar methods for a long time.
Market makers, known as liquidity providers in the crypto market, normally facilitate buying and selling transactions, adding depth to the market.
US prosecutors emphasize that investors should be more cautious, especially regarding signals such as "high volume" and "sudden price increases." It is stated that the investigation may include new names in the future and that controls on similar activities will be tightened.
