SEC and BitFunder operator Jon Montroll mark progress in settlement negotiations

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Jon Montroll, the operator of now-defunct Bitcoin platform BitFunder, have marked progress in their settlement negotiations. This becomes clear from a status report filed with the New York Southern District Court on Monday, August 20^th.

The defendants and the SEC have progressed in settlement negotiations and continue to expect to resolve the civil case by agreement as well, subject to approval by the Commission. The parties estimate the approval process will take at least 2 months to achieve.

Let’s recall that in February this year, the SEC charged Bitfunder, a former Bitcoin-denominated platform, and its founder – Jon Montroll, with operating an unregistered securities exchange and defrauding users of that exchange. The SEC also charged the operator with making false and misleading statements in connection with an unregistered offering of securities.

In its complaint, the SEC alleges that BitFunder was an unregistered online securities exchange and that Montroll defrauded exchange users by misappropriating their bitcoins and failing to disclose a cyberattack on BitFunder’s system that resulted in the theft of more than 6,000 bitcoins.The SEC also alleges that Montroll sold unregistered securities that purported to be investments in the exchange and misappropriated funds from that investment as well.

The SEC’s complaint charges BitFunder and Montroll with violations of the anti-fraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions and disgorgement plus interest and penalties.

In July this year, a plea agreement in the criminal case related to this proceeding was entered. Montroll, a/k/a “Ukyo,” pled guilty to securities fraud and obstruction of justice. Each of these charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, with Montroll to be sentenced by Judge Berman at a date to be determined.