The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was granted emergency relief on Monday to freeze and appoint a receiver for the assets of Miami-based hedge fund BKCoin and one of its co-founders, Kevin Kang, in an alleged cryptocurrency fraud scheme.

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Fast facts

• Kang and BKCoin allegedly used US$3.6 million worth of “Ponzi-like payments” to fund investors after raising US$100 million from at least 55 investors, the SEC said.

• The SEC also accused Kang of commingling with client assets to fund a personal splurge of at least US$371,000 on sporting tickets, vacations, and a “New York City apartment.” The agency said it is seeking permanent injunctions against BKCoin and Kang.

• Last October, BKCoin suspended Kang from employment and sued him for diverting US$12 million in cash and other assets from BKCoin’s multi-strategy funds.

• The SEC has been accelerating its crackdown on crypto-related fraud. It filed nine cyber enforcement actions related to crypto so far this year, compared to two actions filed over the same period in 2022.

• Illicit crypto transaction volume rose to an all-time high of US$20.1 billion in 2022. However, crypto scam revenue fell to US$5.9 billion from US$10.9 billion recorded in 2021 due to falling crypto prices, according to blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis.

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