Chinese Crypto Investment Firm Asked to Remove London Underground Ads

Zeux reportedly touted an investment scheme with 5 percent interest but didn't state it sent the funds back to China using crypto.

AccessTimeIconFeb 10, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. UTC
Updated Aug 19, 2021 at 12:43 a.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

The U.K.'s financial watchdog has asked a China-based cryptocurrency investment firm to remove advertisements for its service from the London Underground.

According to a report from This is Money late last week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) responded to criticism it had been slow to act after the financial news site reported the ads, saying it had come to an agreement with the firm two weeks ago to take the ads down.

  • 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 firm in question, Zeux, is reported to have placed ads touting a savings scheme with fixed 5 percent returns. This is Money said it found the investments were converted into cryptocurrency and sent to China for investment there – a fact, it said, was not stated in the ads.

    "While these discussions are continuing, the firm agreed on [Jan. 24] to pause the sale of the product to new customers and to stop all marketing activity relating to the product, including on their website, social media and public advertising on the transport network of the product in question," the FCA said in its response.

    The news report suggests the ads are still "widespread" on the London Underground railway system.

    The FCA said some ads had been put up before it had spoken to Zeux and that it takes some time before they can be removed, "given the size of the network."

    "The firm has agreed to pause the sale of the product to new customers whilst our discussions are continuing," the FCA added.

    Frank Zhou, Zeux founder and CEO, had previously told This is Money the company was working to comply with the FCA request.

    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.