US politician’s letter demands crypto firms turn over anti-fraud files
Crypto exchanges Binance.US, Coinbase, FTX, Kraken, and KuCoin have received a letter from one of the US government’s leading investigative bodies demanding they prove that they’ve been sticking to a number of safety measures designed to protect investors.
The letter, which refers to crypto as “scammers’ favored means of payment” came from the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and requests the companies release official documents to demonstrate how the company is combatting crypto-related fraud.
In the letter, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi demands the firms turn over:
- All documents regarding their efforts to combat crypto-related scams and fraud and inform consumers about the risks related to investments in cryptocurrencies;
- All documents regarding their processes to identify, investigate, and remove or flag potentially fraudulent digital assets or accounts used on their product(s);
- All documents setting out their policies governing cryptocurrencies, cryptocurrency traders, buyers, sellers, investors, consumers, or any other individual or entity using their product(s);
- All documents discussing whether to adopt more stringent policies governing cryptocurrencies, cryptocurrency traders, buyers, sellers, investors, consumers, or any other individual or entity using their product(s).
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It also highlights the lack of cooperation from crypto companies in general and demands the firms in question outline exactly what tools and mechanisms they have in place to combat potential crypto fraud and to ensure that any victims are suitably compensated.
Writing in the letter, Krishnamoorthi said: “While some exchanges review cryptocurrencies before listing them, others allow digital assets to be listed with little or no vetting. Potential vulnerabilities that could easily be identified through code audits are left undiscovered (our emphasis).
“Many exchanges have also failed to implement appropriate monitoring of accounts, which can flag illicit activity, notify investors, and prevent transactions with addresses linked to scammers. For all these reasons, I am concerned about the growth of fraud and consumer abuse linked to cryptocurrencies.”
Krishnamoorthi then goes on to suggest that exchanges get ahead of any potential issues by “implementing audit policies, requiring certain disclosures, delisting, and adopting other safety mechanisms.”
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