Yazılar

FCC Warns China Mobile of Potential Fines Over Non-Compliance in U.S. Probe

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warned on Tuesday that it could impose fines on China Mobile for allegedly failing to cooperate with an investigation into whether its U.S. operations are circumventing American restrictions. The probe is part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with national security directives that have already barred several Chinese telecom firms from operating in the U.S.

According to the FCC, China Mobile has shown “misconduct” and “disregard” for regulatory authority by not providing the specific documents and information requested. The agency said the probe has been ongoing since November 2022, and that a supplemental request was sent in February this year. The company now has 30 days to comply before facing financial penalties.

Background and Concerns:

  • In 2019, the FCC determined that China Mobile was indirectly owned and controlled by the Chinese government, posing a national security risk due to the potential for cyber intrusions, espionage, and economic attacks.

  • The March 2024 probe includes nine Chinese companies, such as Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua, China Telecom, and China Unicom Americas, all under suspicion of operating in ways that could sidestep U.S. bans.

  • FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned that some Chinese firms may be continuing operations under ambiguous interpretations of current restrictions.

Implications:

If China Mobile fails to respond within the specified timeframe, it may face escalating enforcement actions and monetary penalties, further straining U.S.-China technology and trade relations. The FCC’s stance signals increased vigilance in monitoring foreign telecom activity on U.S. soil, especially involving entities tied to state-backed ownership.

China Mobile has not yet issued a response.

Coinbase to Launch CFTC-Compliant Perpetual Futures Trading in U.S.

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Coinbase announced plans on Thursday to introduce perpetual futures trading in the United States, with the product designed to comply with regulatory standards set by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The move represents a significant expansion of the crypto exchange’s derivatives offerings as the broader market anticipates lighter regulation and displays renewed investor risk appetite.

“We recently launched first-of-its-kind 24/7 futures trading, and I’m excited to share that we’ll soon be launching CFTC-compliant perpetual futures trading in the U.S. as well,” said Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s vice-president of product, speaking at the State of Crypto Summit in New York.

Perpetual futures are a form of crypto derivatives that allow traders to speculate on token prices without an expiry date. These contracts provide continuous trading access, often with high leverage, and have grown in popularity as fast-moving markets attract both institutional and retail traders seeking to hedge risk, amplify returns, or speculate on price movements without holding the underlying digital assets.

The expansion comes amid heightened competition among crypto exchanges racing to offer complex products that were once limited to sophisticated market participants. Coinbase’s decision to ensure compliance with CFTC regulations may also help position the exchange favorably with U.S. regulators, as the crypto industry continues to face scrutiny from multiple government agencies.

BitMEX Fined $100 Million for Anti-Money Laundering Violations

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BitMEX, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has been fined $100 million by a U.S. District Judge for failing to comply with U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) laws. The fine follows a guilty plea in July 2023 after BitMEX was accused of deliberately ignoring anti-money laundering and “know your customer” (KYC) regulations between 2015 and 2020 to increase revenue. The company was sentenced to two years of probation, and its founders—Benjamin Delo, Arthur Hayes, and Samuel Reed—had previously pled guilty and received probation sentences.

In addition to the $100 million fine, BitMEX had already paid approximately $110 million in related criminal and civil settlements. Prosecutors had initially sought a $417 million fine, arguing that BitMEX failed to show genuine acceptance of responsibility, with the exchange ultimately pleading guilty after its founders’ pleas.

BitMEX contended that no further fine was warranted, pointing to its prior settlements and emphasizing that it has since taken corrective action to become a more compliant business. The company acknowledged it was slow to adapt to regulatory changes during a time of industry uncertainty but has since worked to rectify past issues.