Do Kwon and Terraform Labs Found Guilty of Misleading Investors
The recent civil fraud trial in the United States has found Do Kwon and Terraform Labs liable for misleading investors prior to the UST stablecoin collapse in 2022. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had charged Kwon and Terraform Labs of falsely leading investors about the stability of TerraUSD, the network's stablecoin also known as UST. The UST stablecoin was designed to maintain a value of 1:1 against the dollar. The SEC also accused the defendants of falsely claiming that Terraform's blockchain was used in a popular Korean mobile payment app. The jury, after a two-week trial, agreed with the SEC's allegations and found the defendants guilty of civil fraud charges on Friday.
The TerraUSD and Luna collapse caused a cryptocurrency market crash in 2022, which resulted in several companies going bankrupt. The collapse was severe enough that it sent shockwaves throughout the industry, leading to the arrest of Terraform Labs founder, Do Kwon, in Montenegro in March 2023.
Following the verdict, a spokesperson for Terraform expressed disappointment and stated that the company would weigh its options. However, the SEC, through its Division of Enforcement Director Gurbir Grewal, emphasized the importance of compliance and registration in the crypto markets. According to Grewal, the lack of compliance and registration has real consequences for investors.
US District Judge Jed Rakoff is expected to determine the penalties in the coming weeks after hearing from the SEC and the defendants. Terraform will be able to challenge the ruling on appeal after the final judgment in the case.
Originally posted here: https://ift.tt/gUjoh8k
