Quantcast

Director of enforcement for FCA on crypto regulation: 'Those who flout our rules will face serious consequences'

Solana users are paying millions to stop bots attacking their trades
Bitcoin (BTC) rebounds over the weekend after a sharp fall
Coinbase benefitting from 'hostile regulatory environment': Bitwise
Blockchain Business School And Pyratzlabs Team Up To Finance Your Web3 Training
This Week's Top Crypto News: Bitcoin, Binance, Ethereum, Solana, Ripple
Crypto companies raise $2.5bn in first quarter — a ‘lacklustre’ 29% increase
Ethereum: The rush of crypto investors continues despite the price drop
Angry investors say ZKasino stole $30m in crypto as Dutch police make arrest linked to scam
Coinbase Profit Jumps As Crypto Rally
Jack Dorsey and Block under legal investigation, but buy more Bitcoin
EigenLayer will distribute 100 more EIGEN tokens to each address eligible for its airdrop
Paragraph Raises $5 Million, Acquires Web3 Blogging Platform Mirror
Baroness' Letter Sparks Debate on UK's AI Market Competition
Web3 wine marketplace Baxus raises $5m from Multicoin Capital, Solana Ventures
Uniswap users can now use Robinhood Connect to buy cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin (BTC) Falls Below $58k as ETF Investors Retreat
Pike Finance Exploit Leads to $1.6M in Stolen Cryptocurrency
Two giants will allow you to bequeath your cryptos
Bitcoin: Coinbase Integrates The Lightning Network For Btc Transfers
New AI Meme Coin ICO WienerAI Adds Trading Bot AI Companion Feature, Laps Up $700,000
What will push Solana back to its $260 all-time high? Three analysts weigh in
A closer look at the tough month for spot bitcoin ETFs
ETFs on pause but investors are starting to buy back, what consequences?
Crypto investment outflows reach 3-week streak with $435m
The stock market soars: Europe reacts ahead of the FED meeting!
Renzo is coming to Binance Launchpool: how to participate to earn REZ tokens?
Bitcoin halving was 'not priced in' despite recent correction, analyst says
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Surges to $64,500, Rare 'Epic Sat' Sells for $2.1M
Crypto: A $500 million liquidation threat on Ethereum
Cryptocurrency is making a comeback on Stripe
Director of enforcement for FCA on crypto regulation: 'Those who flout our rules will face serious consequences'
Web3/Crypto
Webp  78
Therese Chambers, Joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight | FCA

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said that the sentencing of Olumide Osunkoya marks the UK's first criminal conviction for unregistered crypto activity. The statement was made in a press release on February 28.

"This is the UK's first criminal sentencing for unregistered crypto activity and sends a clear message," said Chambers, Joint Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight. "those who flout our rules, seek to evade detection and engage in criminal activity will face serious consequences."

In a landmark case, London-based entrepreneur Olumide Osunkoya, 46, received a four-year prison sentence for operating unregistered cryptocurrency ATMs across the UK. Between December 2021 and March 2022, Osunkoya's company, GidiPlus Ltd, managed 28 crypto ATMs without necessary FCA registration, processing transactions totaling approximately £2.5 million. This conviction underscores the UK's stringent stance on unregulated crypto activities and represents the first criminal sentencing for such offenses in the country, according to the FCA.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Crypto Republique
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The press release further indicates that despite being denied FCA registration in December 2021, Osunkoya continued to operate his network of crypto ATMs. To evade detection, he later transferred the machines from GidiPlus Ltd and personally managed a reduced network of up to 12 crypto ATMs under a false name and company. Additionally, he failed to implement necessary anti-money laundering checks, allowing potential misuse of the ATMs for illicit activities.

Financial News London reports that the UK's conservative regulatory stance on crypto assets may hinder its ability to compete with more progressive jurisdictions. Industry leaders warn that overly stringent regulations could drive innovation and investment to countries with more accommodating regulatory frameworks, potentially diminishing the UK's influence in the global crypto market.

Chambers began her legal career in private practice as a commercial litigator in the City of London. For over 20 years, she has been involved in UK regulatory enforcement at both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Throughout her tenure, Chambers has led investigations and litigation in several high-profile and complex enforcement cases, including Operation Tabernula—the UK's most intricate insider dealing prosecution—as well as cases related to LIBOR and foreign exchange manipulations.

Learn Signal reports that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was established on April 1, 2013, succeeding the Financial Services Authority (FSA) as part of a comprehensive reform of the UK's financial regulatory framework following the global financial crisis. Operating independently of the UK government, the FCA is funded by fees charged to the financial services industry. Its primary objectives include protecting consumers, ensuring integrity within UK financial markets, and promoting effective competition in consumers' interests.

More News

The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has issued a warning regarding Timebtc Group, which is offering financial, investment, and cryptocurrency services without the necessary authorization.

Apr 21, 2025

The Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) announced it had issued warnings about unregistered financial and crypto entities operating without proper authorization.

Apr 21, 2025

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has announced its adherence to the European Banking Authority's (EBA) guidelines on restrictive measures for crypto-asset service providers, aimed at combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

Apr 21, 2025

HM Treasury announced the 2023–24 Supervision Report on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF), highlighting the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) oversight of UK crypto firms since 2020.

Apr 21, 2025

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Stefan Berger has urged the Trump administration to align its policies with Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) standards.

Apr 21, 2025

Marina Markezic, director and co-founder of the European Crypto Initiative (EUCI), has described the call by the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Managing Director to revise the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation as "premature."

Apr 21, 2025

Loading...

No comments available.