The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has successfully prosecuted Bit Trade Pty Ltd, the operator of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken in Australia, resulting in an $8 million fine.
This penalty stems from Bit Trade illegally issuing a margin extension product to more than 1,100 Australian customers without meeting the necessary regulatory obligations.
Kraken Fined for Harming Investors
Bit Trade, a subsidiary of Payward Incorporated, is registered with AUSTRAC and operates Kraken’s exchange in Australia. In addition to the $8 million fine, the company will also pay ASIC’s legal costs.
“Legal actions initiated by ASIC have resulted in Australian exchange operator Kraken being ordered to pay $8 million for illegally issuing a credit facility to more than 1,100 Australian customers,” according to a Notification from ASIC.
According to one press release Officially, Bit Trade has offered a margin extension product since October 2021. This product allows customers to borrow money, repayable with digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) or other currencies national currency like the USD.
However, this company did not prepare a target market definition document (TMD). The TMD is a required document to identify the appropriate customer group for financial products under Australia’s design and distribution obligations.
In August 2024, the Federal Court determined that Bit Trade’s margin extension product was a credit facility under Australian law. The absence of a TMD means that the company has violated its regulatory responsibilities with each product supply. ASIC Chairman, Mr. Joe Longo, emphasized the importance of this ruling.
“The target market identification document is fundamental to ensuring that investors are not exposed to inappropriate advertising of products that could harm them,” said Mr. Longo.
He emphasized that more than 1,100 customers had to pay fees and interest rates higher than 7 million USD, with total trading losses exceeding 5 million USD. Alarmingly, a single investor lost nearly $4 million. Mr Longo reiterated the wider implications of this decision.
Furthermore, Judge Nicholas, in issuing the fine, criticized Bit Trade’s compliance measures, describing the company’s compliance system as “seriously flawed.” The court pointed out that the motivation behind Bit Trade’s actions stemmed from revenue generation, a conclusion that arose from the fact that the company continued to offer products even after it became aware of potential violations. violate the law.
“Bit Trade did not pay attention to the requirements of the DDO regime until they were brought to ASIC’s attention,” he commented.
The design and distribution obligations (DDO) framework requires firms to design financial products that suit the needs of specific consumer groups and distribute them responsibly.
Meanwhile, the incident comes at a time when ASIC is increasing its oversight of the digital assets industry. The regulator recently commenced consultations with industry stakeholders. They seek to update guidance on when digital asset products can be considered regulated financial products.
These consultations will be open for feedback until February 2025. However, ASIC’s enforcement actions today highlight the risks associated with investing in digital assets.
In addition to the legal challenges, Kraken is also planning to shut down its NFT marketplace. This move will allow the exchange to focus on allocating resources to upcoming projects. In October, it laid off up to 15% of its staff as part of a restructuring effort.
Despite these operational difficulties, the exchange plans to launch its Layer-2 blockchain, called ‘Ink’, in 2025. The possibility of an IPO (initial public offering) also remains wide open opens amid expected regulatory changes in the US next year.
