Crypto Trading Platform Bitmex Reveals Exchange Token Called BMEX, Airdrop

December 21, 2021 Bitcoin.com

Judge scolds BitMEX lawsuit plaintiffs for offering him crypto ‘basics’ lessons

July 14, 2021 Coin Telegraph

The judge urged the plaintiffs to “focus on the task at hand — convincing me that they have stated a plausible claim.”

The California District Judge overseeing a racketeering suit filed against crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX, William H. Orrick, has rebuffed the plaintiffs’ motion offering to provide them with a tutorial on “cryptocurrency basics.”

According to a July 13 report from Law360, the judge responded to Bitcoin Manipulation Abatement LLC (BMA)’s proposal with a one-page order on Tuesday, outlining the offer was “not well taken.”

“Plaintiffs believe that cryptocurrency tutorial will benefit the court. I think not,” Judge Orrick wrote, adding that the plaintiffs should “focus on the task at hand — convincing me that they have stated a plausible claim.”

BMA’s complaint was first filed in May 2020, just weeks after the firm filed lawsuits against Ripple and FTX. The suit against BitMEX is now in its fourth iteration.

The plaintiffs allege that BitMEX’s former parent company, HDR Global Trading Limited, and executives Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed deliberately designed the exchange to “engage in, facilitate, aid, abet, counsel, induce and/or procure a myriad of illegal activities." BMA alleges BitMEX carried out racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud.

A previous version of the suit was dismissed without prejudice in March. BitMEX has staunchly rejected BMA’s claims.

The United States Department of Justice has accused Delo, Hayes, Reed and BitMEX head of business development Gregory Dwyer of violating the Bank Secrecy Act, having filed complaints against the group in October 2020.

Reed was arrested the same month, while Delo and Hayes voluntarily surrendered to authorities in March and April respectively, before being released on bail. The trio will face trial in March 2022, with Dwyer remaining at large.

BitMEX’s Arthur Hayes surrenders in Hawaii, released on $10M bond

April 7, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Arthur Hayes

The former CEO of BitMEX surrendered in Hawaii and was later released after posting a $10 million bond.

Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes surrendered to U.S. authorities in Hawaii on Tuesday, six months after federal prosecutors first levied charges against him and three fellow BitMEX executives.

In a statement, Hayes’ lawyers described the Singapore resident as “a self-made entrepreneur who has been wrongly accused of crimes that he did not commit,” adding:

“Mr. Hayes voluntarily appeared in court and looks forward to fighting these unwarranted charges.”

Hayes was released after posting a $10 million bail bond pending future proceedings in New York.

Hayes’ lawyers proposed his surrender in Hawaii last month. Discussions centered around Hayes’ potential release subject to the $10 million bail bond, his retention of a passport for travel between Singapore and the United States, and a waiver of extradition mutually agreed upon by both parties.

Hayes’ representation began talks with the U.S. government after his indictment was unsealed in October 2020.

The government accuses Hayes, BitMEX co-owners Ben Delo and Greg Dwyer, and former BitMEX CTO Samuel Reed of violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to maintain adequate anti-money laundering safeguards and failing to prevent U.S. residents from accessing the exchange despite the company not being registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Reed was arrested in October, while Delo voluntarily surrendered to authorities in New York last month, with both pleading not guilty and being released on bond. Dwyer remains at large, however his lawyers state they have notified the U.S. government as to Dwyer’s whereabouts and intention to fight the charges against him.

Ben Delo