Korean Crypto Exchange Executives Fake Trading Volumes, Earn Prison Sentences
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Two major executives of Komid, a cryptocurrency exchange platform based in South Korea, have been sentenced to prison, according to a report by local Korean news outlet Blockinpress.
The two individuals were convicted of falsifying trading volumes on the exchange. Choi Hyunsuk, CEO of Komid, is one of the indicted individuals. He was given a three-year sentence for his role in the scam, while the other executive, In-House Director Park Mo, is set to be jailed for two years as well.
Fake Accounts and False Orders
It was reported that Choi and his partner created well over five accounts on the exchange and were using these accounts to make trades, with the purpose of inflating the daily trading volume estimates on the exchange. Choi was also accused of developing a cryptocurrency bot application and installing it on the platform to make large trade orders.
This way, investors were tricked into believing that the platform had a high volume of trade going through it. The two officials were later brought up on charges of fraud, financial misconduct, and embezzlement.
The charges from the prosecutors claimed that the two fabricated 5 million transactions on the platform, while also giving its customers a perception that the increase in daily trading volume was organic. The two reportedly earned $45 million from the scam.
Upon sentencing, the judge who presided over the case said, “Choi has committed fraud for a countless number of victims for a long period. Furthermore, he holds the financial authorities responsible for failing to keep track of the industry better.”
Wash Trading- A Deceptive Tactic Destroying Trust
“Wash trading,” as it is usually called, is the act of creating artificial trading activity on a trading platform of any kind. It is quite commonplace in the crypto industry, although this is the first time that a crypto exchange executive is being jailed for it.
In his remarks, the judge also stated that this case has further damaged the confidence of investors and customers in the crypto exchange, and it has the potential to develop a negative effect on the country’s digital asset trading market as well.
Upbit’s Elaborate Scam
Various crypto exchanges have been caught making use of the very same deceptive methods to make false orders. In December 2018, officials of Upbit, one of the largest crypto exchanges in South Korea, were charged with similar fraudulent activities. According to the report, three officials of the company, including the Board Chairman and Finance Director, faked orders to the tune of over $260 billion. In addition to that, they reportedly sold 11,500 BTC to thousands of investors, pocketing $132 million in the process.
