Texas Issues Another Cease-and-Desist over Alleged Crypto Fraud

Texas' securities regulator has ordered yet another cryptocurrency investment firm to halt services over alleged fraud and securities violations.

AccessTimeIconFeb 27, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 8:19 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

A Texas regulator is gunning for yet another cryptocurrency-related company it accuses of promoting unregistered securities targeting the U.S. state's residents.

According to a document received and reviewed by CoinDesk, the Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) issued a new cease-and-desist order on Feb. 26 to a Panama-based cryptocurrency firm named LeadInvest.net.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • The state regulator said it considers the firm's cryptocurrency mining and trading programs to be unregistered security offerings and, furthermore, that LeadInvest is also using fake stock images to portray its team members.

    The TSSB details that the firm's website and promotions have allegedly been making deceptive and misleading statements when soliciting Texas residents – promising 20 to 100 percent returns on investments within one to three months through the firm's cryptocurrency mining and trading services.

    The regulator further states that the web profile images of the company's staff are either stock photographs of models that can be found at image vendors or are images of other individuals with no connection with the company.

    The TSSB alleges in the document that, as of Feb. 26, the firm has collected over $177 million from over 190,000 accounts.

    The new cease-and-desist order is yet another indication of the efforts the TSSB is putting into in scrutinizing cryptocurrency-related investment programs that solicit interests from Texas-based investors.

    Within February alone, the board has already filed cease-and-desist orders to two other firms – an overseas initial coin offering and a cryptocurrency lending project.

    Read the full order below:

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.