CFTC obtains entry of default against binary options and crypto scammer Blake Kantor

Maria Nikolova

The defaults of defendants Blue Bit Analytics, Ltd., Blue Bit Banc, Blue Wolf Sales Consultants, G. Thomas Client Services, Blake Harrison Kantor, Mercury Cove, Inc., and Nathan Mullins have been noted.

The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has managed to secure a clerk’s entry of default against a number of entities targeted in a binary options and cryptocurrency fraud case. This happens about two weeks after the US regulator filed its request for a certificate of default against Blue Bit Analytics, Ltd., Blue Bit Banc, Blue Wolf Sales Consultants, G. Thomas Client Services, Blake Harrison Kantor, Mercury Cove, Inc., and Nathan Mullins.

Earlier today, a clerk of the New York Eastern District Court said that, appearing from the docket maintained in this action that the defendants have failed to appear or otherwise defend this action, the defaults of defendants Blue Bit Analytics, Ltd., Blue Bit Banc, Blue Wolf Sales Consultants, G. Thomas Client Services, Blake Harrison Kantor, Mercury Cove, Inc., and Nathan Mullins are hereby noted pursuant to Rule 55a of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

On April 16, 2018, the CFTC filed its Complaint against individual defendants Kantor and Mullins and corporate defendants Blue Bit, Analytics, G. Thomas and Mercury Cove, as well as relief defendant Blue Wolf seeking injunctive and other equitable relief for violations of certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission Regulations.

The CFTC Complaint alleges that since at least April 2014 and continuing to the present, the defendants have solicited potential customers through emails, phone calls, and a website to purchase illegal off-exchange binary options via companies such as Blue Bit Banc. The defendants sought to cover up their misappropriation by inviting customers to transfer their binary options account balances into a virtual currency known as ATM Coin.

In a related action, the United States Government is seeking a heavy prison sentence for Blake Kantor, who has pleaded guilty to criminal charges of wire fraud based upon his fraudulent binary options and cryptocurrency scheme.

Read this next

Digital Assets

USDC sees massive $10.4 billion outflows in March

Cryptocurrency traders have withdrawn more than $10 billion from the world’s second largest stablecoin, USDC, in less than three weeks even as concerns over the fallout from the Silicon Valley collapse have receded.

Interviews

OSTTRA’s Joanna Davies goes beyond 30-30-30 data standard at FIA Boca 2023

FinanceFeeds Editor-in-Chief Nikolai Isayev spoke with Joanna Davies about OSTTRA.

Interviews

CloudMargin’s Stuart Connolly on how to manage collateral amid high rates at FIA Boca 2023

FinanceFeeds Editor-in-Chief Nikolai Isayev spoke with Stuart Connolly about CloudMargin’s SaaS platform, said to be the only cloud-native collateral and margin management system in the industry, at a time of stress due to rising interest rates.

Interviews

Baton Systems’ Alex Knight on solving post-trade with DLT at FIA Boca 2023

FinanceFeeds Editor-in-Chief Nikolai Isayev spoke with Alex Knight about Baton Systems’ about rising settlement fails, collateral management, and the profile of DLT beyond cryptocurrencies.

Industry News

Wise claims 92% of banks hide or inflate FX fees despite Cross-Border Payments Regulation 2

“Banks continue to exploit loopholes in EU regulation to mislead their customers and overcharge them through fees hidden in inflated exchange rates.”

Industry News

Goliath Partners opens Miami headquarters to recruit C++ developers for fintech and trading

I’m extremely excited to be pursuing this venture and having the backing of such knowledgeable entrepreneurs who have seen success time and time again. We’ve already made brilliant headway working with leading investment houses and trading exchanges. It’s just the start, but we’re already making a huge difference with our work.”

Industry News

IOSCO calls for cooperation against cross-border scams, greenwashing, misconduct, and fraud

“Regulators need effective resources, practices, tools, and techniques to promote consumer protection and market integrity, which is supported through participation in critical multilateral forums such as IOSCO.”

Institutional FX

Archax rolls out tokenization engine as LawtechUK confirms legal standing of tokens

“As the UK’s first FCA regulated digital securities exchange, we are now building on this to pave the way to make traditional assets interoperate with Web 3.0.”

Technology

Broadridge migrates bond e-trading platform LTX to AWS

“LTX is committed to offering innovative e-trading technology that facilitates transparency and liquidity discovery. By migrating to AWS, LTX can leverage the scalability of the cloud to continue to deliver enhanced data and execution capabilities to our clients.”

<