Quantcast

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

Bitcoin to Account for 7% of Global Wealth, Surge in Price to $13M in 21 Years: Michael Saylor
Bitcoin (BTC) is once again approaching $70,000 after 3 weeks of rise
Ethereum plunges by 13% despite the launch of ETH ETFs, while this pre-sale raises more than $7 million
Ether ETFs See $107M Inflows on Day One as Trading Volume Tops $1B
Crypto throws Celsius defendants potential lifeline in clawback lawsuits, lawyer says
New Fund Offers Bitcoin Holders Path to EU Citizenship
Ferrari to accept cryptocurrency payments in Europe by the end of the month
Binance CEO on company's 7th anniversary: 'we continue to focus a lot on efforts on education, to work closely with regulators'
Any Near-Term Rebound in Crypto Market Likely to Be Temporary: JPMorgan
Web3 User Experience is Broken, Can ZK Proof Technology Fix It?
Binance CEO: Company collaborates 'with regulators and policymakers' on crypto frameworks
MiCA regulation: what future for stablecoins in the European Union?
Solana Could Hit the Moon with $1,400 Price
Guilherme Nazar moves to Head of Latin America at Binance
Visa's Data Partner Allium Labs Raises $16.5M as Their New Findings Show Stablecoin Activity is Back Up
OKX Europe head sees more crypto mergers as MiCA rules roll out
Ethereum (ETH) Remains Inflationary as Circulating Supply Spikes
Microsoft's giant outage hits airports, banks and major companies
Solana attracts giants like Paypal and Stripe
Payment giant Stripe now offers cryptocurrency purchases by credit card in Europe
Vitalik Buterin, as Other Crypto Leaders Line Up Behind Trump, Argues Against Picking Candidates Just Because They Like Crypto
German government's bitcoin selloff nets $2.9 billion as film piracy case marches on
Singapore court ruling fans suspicions the $125m Multichain hack was an inside job
Will Bitcoin 2024 Conference Be a Game Changer for Crypto?
Plaintiffs File New, Slimmed Down Complaint in Class Action Lawsuit Against Tether
Forbes releases the best crypto top 10 of the year 2024, +90 at 1300%
Why JPMorgan sees a Bitcoin rebound in August
Europe Conquering the Crypto Market: $100 Trillion at Stake!
Binance CEO on 200 million user milestone: 'Crypto has become too big to ignore and is not going away'
SEC Relaxes Crypto Reporting Rules for Banks and Brokerages
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

Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize, said that the company is facilitating crypto investors' access to on-chain real-world asset information without the need for coding or blockchain explorers.

Oct 24, 2025

Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, commented on DeepSeek's reported success in artificial intelligence trading, highlighting potential market effects and the likelihood of increased research and activity.

Oct 24, 2025

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has said that Polygon and Sandeep Nailwal have significantly advanced the ecosystem.

Oct 24, 2025

Binance announced on its website that it has updated the annual percentage rate (APR) for USDe on Binance Earn, offering a 7% flexible rate for eligible users from October 22 to October 30 (UTC).

Oct 24, 2025

Julian Hosp, Founder of Cake DeFi, has expressed concerns about the speculative nature of Bitcoin and MicroStrategy's stock, suggesting they are vulnerable to sharp declines when market sentiment turns negative.

Oct 24, 2025

Binance has announced the launch of direct USD deposits and withdrawals in select regions through BPay Global, a provider licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Oct 24, 2025