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Aleksei Andriunin, founder and CEO of the cryptocurrency market-making firm Gotbit, has consented to forfeit approximately $23 million in USDT and USDC as part of a plea agreement with U.S. federal prosecutors. This development follows charges of wire fraud and market manipulation linked to Gotbit’s alleged involvement in artificially inflating trading volumes for various cryptocurrencies between 2018 and 2024.
In a significant legal development, Aleksei Andriunin, the 26-year-old Russian founder and CEO of Gotbit, has entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Massachusetts. As part of this deal, Andriunin has agreed to forfeit approximately $23 million held in Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC). This agreement addresses charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud.
Gotbit, established in 2017 and registered in Belize, operated as a cryptocurrency market-making firm. The company allegedly provided services designed to artificially inflate trading volumes for various cryptocurrency tokens, including those of U.S.-based firms. This practice, commonly referred to as “wash trading,” involves executing trades without market risk to create a misleading appearance of liquidity and demand.
According to court documents, Gotbit’s activities spanned from 2018 to 2024, during which the firm is accused of orchestrating widespread cryptocurrency market manipulation. The U.S. Department of Justice asserts that these manipulations deceived investors and disrupted the integrity of cryptocurrency markets.
Andriunin’s legal troubles escalated in October 2024 when he was arrested by Portuguese authorities and subsequently extradited to the United States. Following his extradition, he appeared in a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was ordered to remain detained pending further proceedings.
The plea agreement stipulates that Andriunin will plead guilty to three counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and market manipulation. In addition to the $23 million forfeiture, the agreement acknowledges that this forfeiture does not preclude the imposition of additional penalties, fines, or restitution that the court may deem appropriate.
It’s important to note that this agreement is solely between Andriunin and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. It does not bind other federal, state, or local prosecuting authorities. Furthermore, the court is not obligated to adhere to the sentencing recommendations proposed in the plea agreement, and Andriunin cannot withdraw his guilty plea based on disagreements with the court’s sentencing decisions.
This case underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to pursuing fraudulent activities within the cryptocurrency industry. It serves as a cautionary tale for market participants about the legal repercussions of engaging in deceptive trading practices.
As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying to ensure transparency and protect investors from manipulative schemes. The outcome of Andriunin’s case may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct in the rapidly growing digital asset space.
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