Do Kwon made his first appearance in US court, facing federal fraud charges. According to local reporters, Kwon declared not guilty.
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to impose a prison sentence on him, and his homeland also wants to see him detained.
Do Kwon Finally Faces Court
Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon has been involved in this extradition battle for a long time. A high court in Montenegro approved his extradition in February 2024, but he has gone through multiple appeals.
This war finally ended on December 27, and US authorities arrested him on New Year’s Eve. Today, Mr appeared in court.
“Do Kwon was chatting with one of his lawyers, smiling – seemingly in good spirits. In Montenegro on December 31 at 10 a.m., the FBI took him into custody. Kwon entered a not guilty plea through his lawyer, who said: ‘We agree to the detention without prejudice,’” said a reporter in the courtroom. said.
This long-running legal battle involves the collapse of TerraUSD, when one of Terraform’s stablecoins caused a severe market crash. Do Kwon reached a confidential settlement with the SEC in May, but this involved only one set of charges. The commission wants Kwon punished for defrauding investors, which could result in penalties such as fines and bans.
The US Department of Justice also accused Do Kwon of financial fraud and unsuccessfully using a fake passport to evade arrest. These allegations relate to to prison sentence.
Additionally, South Korea has also tried to prosecute Kwon, and he faces up to 40 years if convicted there.
Still, his calm demeanor amid these serious events is quite remarkable. However, today’s trial is only the beginning of a long trial and trial process. Do Kwon went to great lengths to avoid extradition to the United States, even funding the opposition party in Montenegro to increase his chances of staying in the country.
In short, even if he pursues a plea deal similar to the one with the SEC, it seems highly likely that Do Kwon will face prison time. Despite growing support for cryptocurrencies within the US government, prosecutors remain enthusiastic about prosecuting major fraudsters like Sam Bankman-Fried. A prominent case like Kwon’s will also attract attention.
