Crypto Trading Comes to Hong Kong, Nexo Settlement Ensures Compliance, Insider Trading Punished

Cryptocurrencies have been gaining traction in the investment world, with exchanges that facilitate their trading becoming more popular. Interactive Brokers, a global electronic broker, has recently announced the launch of cryptocurrency trading in Hong Kong, in collaboration with OSL Digital Securities. This is the world’s first SFC-licensed digital asset brokerage and trading platform for professional investors.^[0]

Interactive Brokers Hong Kong offers cryptocurrency trading with low commissions of 0.20%-0.30% of the trade value, depending on the monthly volume. There is a minimum of USD 2.25 per order and no added spreads or markups. This collaboration is poised to make a significant impact on the Hong Kong digital asset market.

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities recently joined 53 other jurisdictions and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a $45 million settlement with Nexo Capital Inc. (Nexo).^[1] By April 1, 2023, Nexo must alert all its remaining U.S. investors to withdraw their digital assets from Nexo’s platform, as per the agreement.^[1]

ISHAN WAHI, a former product manager at Coinbase Global, pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to commit insider trading in cryptocurrency assets by using confidential Coinbase information.^[2] WAHI provided confidential information to two other individuals, Nikhil Wahi and Sameer Ramani, so that they could engage in profitable trades around public announcements by Coinbase that it would be listing certain crypto assets on Coinbase’s exchanges.^[3]

The act of staking involves committing tokens to a validator who is responsible for processing transactions on a blockchain network, thereby securing and maintaining the network’s operational integrity. Staking is important, since a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain network is only as secure as the number of tokens pledged to these validators.

In conclusion, with the launch of cryptocurrency trading in Hong Kong, investors are able to benefit from low costs and the ability to trade crypto alongside many other global products from a single unified platform.^[0] Additionally, settled charges with Nexo Capital Inc. (Nexo) will ensure that crypto trading is done in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws. Finally, ISHAN WAHI’s guilty plea is a reminder that insider trading in cryptocurrency assets is illegal and will be prosecuted.

0. “Interactive Brokers Launches Cryptocurrency Trading in Hong Kong …” www.marketscreener.com, 17 Feb. 2023, https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/INTERACTIVE-BROKERS-GROUP-50014/news/Interactive-Brokers-Launches-Cryptocurrency-Trading-in-Hong-Kong-42977330/

1. “Pennsylvania to Receive Money in Multi-State Cryptocurrency …” pennwatch.org, 17 Feb. 2023, https://pennwatch.org/pennsylvania-to-receive-money-in-multi-state-cryptocurrency-settlement/

2. “Former Coinbase Insider Pleads Guilty in First-Ever Cryptocurrency …” www.hstoday.us, 17 Feb. 2023, https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/cybersecurity/former-coinbase-insider-pleads-guilty-in-first-ever-cryptocurrency-insider-trading-case/

3. “Ishan Wahi pleads guilty in first-ever cryptocurrency insider-trading …” www.newsindiatimes.com, 17 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsindiatimes.com/ishan-wahi-pleads-guilty-in-first-ever-cryptocurrency-insider-trading-case/