The CEO and vice president of technology of Bitsonic, a South Korean crypto exchange, have been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a massive fraud scheme involving fake trading volumes and customer deposits.
The Seoul Eastern District Court has sentenced the CEO and vice president of technology of Bitsonic, a major South Korean crypto exchange, to seven and one year in prison, respectively, for their roles in a fraudulent scheme that duped hundreds of users and netted them over 10 billion won (about $8.4 million).
According to the court’s verdict, the Bitsonic executives, identified only by their surnames Shin and Bae, were found guilty of multiple charges, including fraud, forgery, and obstruction of business by computer, under the Punishment Act for Specific Economic Crimes.
The court found that Shin and Bae used Bitsonic’s platform to manipulate the market prices and trading volumes of Bitsonic Coin (BSC), the exchange’s native token, by using the exchange’s funds and creating fake Korean Won points in the system.
They also siphoned off the cash and crypto deposits of 101 coin investors, who were lured by the false impression of Bitsonic’s legitimacy and profitability.
The court said that Shin and Bae’s actions caused serious damage to the trust and order of the virtual asset market and that they deserved a harsh punishment for their crimes.
The Bitsonic crypto fraud scandal is one of the latest examples of the risks and challenges facing the crypto industry, especially in the unregulated and volatile markets of South Korea. The scandal exposes the vulnerability of crypto users to malicious actors who can exploit the lack of transparency and accountability of some crypto exchanges.
The scandal also underscores the need for more regulatory oversight and consumer protection in the crypto space, as well as more education and awareness among crypto users.
The South Korean government has been tightening its regulations on crypto exchanges, requiring them to register with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) rules.
However, many crypto exchanges have failed to meet the FSC’s requirements, leading to the closure or suspension of several platforms.
The FSC has also warned crypto users to exercise caution and due diligence when choosing a crypto exchange and to avoid investing more than they can afford to lose.