- Bitzlato halts Bitcoin withdrawals amid co-founder’s guilty plea & legal turmoil.
- Bitzlato has experienced seizures to partial restoration amid DOJ allegations.
- Memeinator’s MMTR Presale has raised over $2.57 million as stage 10 nears its end.
In a surprising turn of events, cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato has temporarily suspended all Bitcoin withdrawals following its co-founder’s guilty plea and the subsequent decision to dissolve the platform. As legal battles unfold, users find themselves in uncertainty over the fate of their assets.
Meanwhile, in the crypto space, Memeinator is offering a potential alternative investment opportunity with its ongoing MMTR presale, aiming to redefine the meme coin market.
Bitzlato’s turmoil: co-founder’s guilty plea and asset seizures
Bitzlato’s co-founder, Anatoly Legkodymov, recently pled guilty to operating an unlicensed money services business, leading to the dissolution of the exchange. This legal setback stems from Legkodymov’s arrest earlier in the year, orchestrated in a joint operation involving the United States Department of Justice, Treasury Department, and French law enforcement.
The guilty plea includes a significant forfeiture of $23 million worth of cryptocurrency, with a substantial portion of Bitzlato’s infrastructure, including its website, seized. The legal proceedings have put Bitzlato in a challenging position, forcing the platform to temporarily suspend all Bitcoin withdrawals.
Despite the legal challenges, Bitzlato managed a partial restoration of user funds in March. Through a Telegram bot, the platform allowed users to withdraw 50% of their assets initially stuck on the exchange. Over subsequent months, withdrawal limits gradually increased, reaching 70% by November.
The United States Attorney, Breon Peace, did not mince words, accusing Bitzlato of serving as an “open turnstile by criminals.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) further alleged Bitzlato’s role as a financial resource for the Hydra darknet marketplace, facilitating money laundering for users, including funds obtained through ransomware attacks.
The development leaves Bitzlato customers in disarray especially seeing they cannot withdraw their assets from the exchange.
Memeinator’s MMTR presale: alternative investment opportunity
Amidst the turbulence in the cryptocurrency space,…
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