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☆ Trump Media stock tumbles as the SEC charges its auditor with 'massive fraud'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump Media's stock price dropped on Friday after its auditor was accused of "massive fraud." The auditor BF Borgers did not comply with common accounting standards, the SEC said. BF Borgers CPA PC, which audited the financials of Trump Media, had "deliberate and systemic failures to comply" with public company accounting standards, the regulatory agency said. BF Borgers settled the SEC charges by paying a $12 million penalty, while Borgers, the owner, paid a separate $2 million penalty. "Trump Media looks forward to working with auditing partners in accordance with today's SEC order," a spokesperson for TMTG said.

Persons: BF, —, Benjamin Borgers, BF Borgers, Borgers, Ben Borgers, Gurbir Grewal, TMTG Organizations: Trump, SEC, Service, Trump Media, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: SEC's

The auditing firm for Trump Media and the auditor's owner were charged Friday with "massive fraud" by the Securities and Exchange Commission for work that affected more than 1,500 SEC filings, the federal regulator announced. The auditor, BF Borgers CPA and its owner Benjamin Borgers have agreed to be permanently suspended from practicing as accountants before the SEC, and also agreed to pay a combined $14 million in civil penalties, without admitting or denying the allegations, the SEC said. The agency, calling BF Borgers a "sham audit mill," said the company and its owner engaged in "deliberate and systemic failures to comply with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ... standards in its audits and reviews incorporated in more than 1,500 SEC filings from January 2021 through June 2023," according to a press release. BF Borgers during that same time acted as the auditor for Trump Media, which was then privately held and moving toward a planned merger with the publicly traded shell company Digital World Acquisition Corp.Trump Media and DWAC finalized that merger in late March 2024, leading to Trump Media becoming publicly traded under the DJT ticker. The SEC said the Lakewood, Colorado-based BF Borgers and its owner were charged with falsely telling clients that the auditor's work would comply with PCAOB standards, fabricating audit documents to make it seem that the work did comply with those standards, and "falsely stating in audit reports included in more than 500 public company SEC filings that the firm's audits complied with PCAOB standards," the release said.

Persons: Benjamin Borgers, BF Borgers, DWAC Organizations: Trump Media, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, BF, CPA, Company, Corp Locations: Lakewood , Colorado

☆ Auditor That Works for Trump Media Is Charged With Fraud
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | More About Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An accounting firm that audits the financial statements of hundreds of public companies including former President Donald J. Trump’s social media company can no longer do so, U.S. securities regulators said on Friday. The Securities and Exchange Commission charged the firm, BF Borgers, with fraud, saying that it had failed to comply with accounting rules. The regulator held BF Borgers and its owner, Benjamin F. Borger, responsible for “deliberate and systemic failures” to comply with accounting rules. Many companies that used BF Borgers must now find new auditors. Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of the Truth Social platform, has been a client of BF Borgers since 2022, according to regulatory filings.

Persons: Donald J, BF, Benjamin F, Borgers Organizations: Securities, Exchange Commission, Trump Media & Technology Group, Trump Media Locations: U.S, Borger

☆ Tesla is pulling out all the stops to get Elon Musk his $47 billion pay package
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla's board urged shareholders in a video to vote for CEO Elon Musk's $47 billion pay package. AdvertisementTesla's board made yet another push to get CEO Elon Musk his $47 billion pay package — this time on-camera. But Musk's billions in extra pay were thrown out after a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit arguing the payout was excessive. The shareholder vote to bring back the pay for Musk, Denholm said, will be "incredibly important for the future of the company." Related storiesShe noted that the carmaker grew revenues from $11.8 billion to $96.8 billion and turned a $2.2 billion loss into a $15 billion profit under Musk's leadership.

Persons: Elon Musk's, —, Elon Musk, Robyn Denholm, it's, Denholm, Tesla, “, ”, AmfRYo28ah — Sawyer Merritt, Musk, Forbes Organizations: carmaker, Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Business Locations: Delaware

☆ Trump Media’s accounting firm charged with ‘massive fraud’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“Trump Media looks forward to working with new auditing partners in accordance with today’s SEC order,” Trump Media spokesperson Shannon Devine told CNN in a statement. According to filings, Borgers served as Trump Media’s independent registered accounting firm before the social media company went public in March. Later in March, the audit committee of Trump Media approved the hiring of Borgers as the public company’s accounting firm. The SEC review only focused on public companies, meaning BF Borgers’ work for Trump Media when it was private was not included. Trump Media is chaired and majority owned by former President Donald Trump, who is also the most popular user on Truth Social.

Persons: BF, Benjamin Borgers, “ Borgers, ” Gurbir Grewal, Trump Media , “, ”, Shannon Devine, Borgers, BF Borgers, Donald Trump Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump Media & Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Truth Social, Trump Media, BF Borgers, “ Trump Media, ” Trump Media, CNN, Trump, Borgers Locations: New York

☆ Trump Media's auditor charged with 'massive fraud' by SEC
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump Media's auditor, BF Borgers, committed fraud in 1,500 filings, the SEC said. "Trump Media looks forward to working with new auditing partners," a spokesperson said. AdvertisementThe Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday charged accounting firm BF Borgers and its owner, Benjamin Borgers, with "massive fraud." "Trump Media looks forward to working with new auditing partners in accordance with today's SEC order," a TMTG spokesperson told Business Insider. AdvertisementDespite losing money and being cagey about how its user base compares to its social media rivals, Trump Media is now valued at over $6.3 billion.

Persons: Trump, BF Borgers, —, Benjamin Borgers, Donald Trump's, Borgers, BF, Grewal Organizations: BF, SEC, Trump Media, Service, Securities, Exchange Commission, Trump Media & Technology, Bloomberg, Public Company, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Business, Truth

☆ Top New York official asks Best Buy about its commitment to LGBTQ groups after conservative pressure
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Matt Lavietes | Brooke Sopelsa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The New York state comptroller sent a letter to Best Buy last week questioning whether the company changed its commitment to inclusivity and supporting LGBTQ groups. The comptroller's office manages the state's $207 billion public pension fund, which has invested in Best Buy. He also denied that the NCPPR pressured Best Buy to stop supporting LGBTQ groups in general. "This contentious and vast disagreement between radical gender theory activists and the general public has nothing to do with Best Buy selling electronics." Peck did not ask Best Buy to stop its donations to the HRC, saying in the email, "We understand that it's unrealistic for Best Buy to leave HRC in the near future because of their political clout."

Persons: Thomas DiNapoli, Corie, Barry, J, Patrick Doyle, DiNapoli, Scott Shepard, Shepard, Trevor, Carly Charlson, Charlson, Eric Bloem, Bloem, Ethan Peck, Peck, Marina Rizzo, hadn't, Rizzo Organizations: NBC News, Securities, Exchange Commission, National Center for Public Policy Research, Best, NBC, NCPPR's Free Enterprise, SAGE, GLAAD, Human Rights, SEC, NCPPR's Free Enterprise Institute, HRC, PRIDE Locations: York, States

☆ Souring on Apple? Mystery bank stock? Buffett followers seek clarity on portfolio at annual meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Trimming Apple One surprising move from the conglomerate was selling about 10 million Apple shares (just 1% of its massive stake) in the fourth quarter. Second, it could have been Buffett's investment deputies Todd Combs and Ted Weschler who trimmed the Apple stake in order to fund other purchases. There's a chance that Buffett might reveal at the annual meeting the mystery bank stock that Berkshire has been buying for two quarters straight . Berkshire now owns more than 70 million of the tracking stock. "You need higher prices, or it doesn't work," Buffett said at Berkshire's 2023 annual meeting.

Persons: Warren Buffett's, Buffett, Todd Combs, Ted Weschler, Debbie Bosanek, Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, SIRI, Bob Bakish, Berkshire's, You've Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, CNBC, Apple, Oracle, Securities and Exchange Commission, Verizon, Berkshire, Liberty, Liberty Media Corp, Liberty Media, Liberty Media Sirius, Paramount, Paramount Global, Skydance Locations: Berkshire, Woodstock, Omaha , Nebraska, Omaha, Chevron, New York, The Omaha

☆ Trump Media pushes House to probe 8 firms over short-selling of DJT shares
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The CEO of Trump Media urged leading House committee chairmen to investigate eight financial firms over concerns of potentially illicit short selling of DJT, whose majority shareholder is former President Donald Trump. A spokesperson for Clear Street declined to comment on Nunes' letter. DJT shares were trading 6% higher early Thursday at $47.84 per share, which is 32% lower than its opening price on March 26. Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, faces pending civil legal judgments of more than $500 million. "Based on factors including the volume and price of purportedly available 'locates,' [Trump Media] has identified ongoing anomalies in DJT trading," Nunes wrote the House Judiciary, Ways and Means, Financial Services, and Oversight and Reform chairmen in his new letter.

Persons: Donald Trump, Devin Nunes, Nunes, Donald Trump's, Trump Organizations: Trump Media, Republicans, Trading, Cowen, Company, Securities, StoneX Securities, Clear, CNBC, Nasdaq, Market, Trump, Judiciary, Financial Services, Exchange, Depository Trust Company, SEC

☆ A Trump SEC would aim to reverse climate disclosure rule, ratchet up ESG fights, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An initial target of the SEC under a second Trump administration would be to roll back the new climate disclosure rules, these people explained. Gensler and the SEC adopted a rule in March requiring large publicly traded companies to disclose their levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Gensler argues greenhouse gas emission levels and other climate related data have a material impact on businesses, and investors deserve to know this information. But an SEC chaired by a Trump appointed Republican would likely remove these Biden-era disclosure requirements, these people said. The prospect of a Trump pullback on the SEC's climate disclosure rules is also tied to the former president's dislike of environmental, social and governance investment standards, some of these people explained.

Persons: Donald Trump, Gary Gensler, Trump, Joe Biden, Gensler, Biden Organizations: The Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Trump, Republican, CNBC Locations: Freeland , Michigan, U.S

☆ Federal prosecutors are examining financial transactions at Block, owner of Cash App and Square
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Gretchen Morgenson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Cash App, introduced in 2013, allows users to send and receive money instantaneously among themselves and to buy stocks and Bitcoin. As of December, Cash App had 56 million active transacting accounts and $248 billion in inflows during the previous four quarters, the company said. (Merchants are considered customers at Square, while users are considered customers at Cash App.) Cash App is not a bank, but it uses external banking partners to conduct various services. On March 29, Sutton Bank settled a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that echoed the whistleblowers' allegations.

Persons: Jack Dorsey, Block, Venezuela —, Edward Siedle, Prosecutors, Cash, OFAC, Lawrence Summers, Sharon Rothstein, Summers, Rothstein, Lord Paul Deighton, Goldman Sachs, Deighton, Dorsey, Banks, Sutton, James Booker Organizations: Twitter, Southern, of, NBC, NBC News, Securities and Exchange Commission, Block, Foreign Assets Control, U.S . Treasury, Cash, OFAC, Goldman, Financial Market, Bank of Lithuania, Payments Lithuania UAB, PayPal, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, Sutton Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, FDIC Locations: of New York, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Ohio, Sutton

☆ UnitedHealth CEO tells lawmakers the company paid hackers a $22 million ransom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Change Healthcare provides payment, revenue management and other solutions like e-prescription software. UnitedHealth told CNBC in April that it paid a ransom to try and protect patient data. Its business unit Optum — which provides care to 103 million customers — and Change Healthcare — which touches one in three patient records — merged in 2022. Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in his opening remarks that the Change Healthcare breach serves as a "dire warning about the consequences of too-big-to-fail mega-corporations." Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., pressed Witty to share how UnitedHealth is working to ensure something like the Change Healthcare breach will not happen again.

Persons: Andrew, UnitedHealth, Sen, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Thom Tillis, they're, Tillis, Blackcat, Michael Bennet Organizations: Senate, Capitol, U.S ., Finance, UnitedHealth, Healthcare, CNBC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Washington , DC

Changpeng Zhao, former chief executive officer of Binance, arrives at federal court in Seattle, Washington, US, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Binance's billionaire founder Changpeng Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to charges of enabling money laundering at his crypto exchange. The sentence in Seattle federal court was significantly less than the three years that federal prosecutors were seeking for Zhao. In November, Zhao struck a deal with the U.S. government to resolve a multiyear investigation into Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The action against Binance and its founder was a joint effort by the Department of Justice, the CFTC and the Treasury Department, though the SEC was notably absent.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, Binance, Zhao Organizations: U.S, Bank, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Binance, Department of Justice, CFTC, Treasury Department, SEC Locations: Seattle , Washington, US, Seattle, Binance, U.S

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao speaks at a Binance fifth anniversary event in Paris, France, July 8, 2022. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani agrees, adding that Zhao's personal wealth won't be affected by his sentence. That's a different siutation from Sam Bankman-Fried, the controversial ex-CEO and founder of crypto exchange FTX. Bankman-Fried received a 25-year prison term for crimes connected to the operation of his crypto exchange. "Negative long-term impact on Binance will diminish the value of CZ's investment in the crypto exchange," said Yadav.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, Reuters Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, Gabriel Abed, Richard Jones, Tre Lovell, Neama Rahmani, David Ryder, Binance, Braden Perry, Sam Bankman, Joshua de Vos, de Vos, Fried, Yesha Yadav, That's, Forbes, he's, Lucas Kiely, Kiely —, —, Yadav, it's Organizations: Staff, Reuters, CNBC, U.S, U.S . Department of Justice, District, Toyota, Bloomberg, Getty, Bank, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Vanderbilt University, Department, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Locations: Paris, France, Seattle, Zhao, Binance, Los Angeles, Seattle , Washington, Dubai, U.S, bitcoin, Iran

☆ Asia's first spot bitcoin and ether ETFs debut in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dado Ruvic | ReutersHong Kong on Tuesday launched six spot bitcoin and ether exchange traded funds — becoming the first in Asia to offer retail investors the ability to trade the cryptocurrencies at spot prices. The cryptocurrency ETFs were issued by three Chinese firms — China Asset Management, Bosera Asset Management, and Harvest Global Investments — on the Hong Kong exchange. Spot bitcoin ETFs by ChinaAMC, Bosera HashKey and Harvest were above 3% higher in early trading, but subsequently gave up some gains to trade by about 1.5% higher. The three ether ETFs were trading above 1% in the morning, but fell into negative territory by the late afternoon. The spot crypto ETFs had received regulatory approval under the provision of virtual asset management services, but crypto futures ETFs have been trading on the HKEX since late 2022.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Bosera, Bitcoin, Antoni Trenchev, Nexo, Trenchev, Han Organizations: Reuters, Tuesday, China Asset Management, Bosera Asset Management, Harvest Global, Hong, Hong Kong's Securities, Futures Commission, ChinaAMC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, CNBC, Stock Exchange of Hong, ., Harvest Global Investments Locations: Reuters Hong Kong, Asia, China, Hong Kong, U.S, Singapore, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

☆ Cyberattack on UnitedHealth firm forces doctors to dig into personal savings to stay afloat
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Change Healthcare offers payment and revenue cycle management tools, and other solutions such as electronic prescription software. On Feb. 21, UnitedHealth Group , which owns Change Healthcare, discovered that hackers compromised part of the unit's information technology systems. UnitedHealth told CNBC earlier this month that there is "no evidence of any new cyber incident at Change Healthcare." It's just one of the ways Change Healthcare touches cash flow within the health-care sector. A controversial mergerSheldon Cooper | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesUnitedHealth's ownership of Change Healthcare has raised eyebrows from the outset.

Persons: Omar Marques, Dr, Angeli Maun Akey, Akey, she's, UnitedHealth, I've, Andrew, Mike Bradley, Barbara McAneny, McAneny, Sarah Carlson, Carlson, Sheldon Cooper, Optum, Michael Nagle, Tyler Kisling, Kisling, he's, There's, it's, Purvi, Parikh hadn't, they've, Amit Phull, Phull, Igor Golovniov Organizations: Lightrocket, CNBC, Healthcare, UnitedHealth, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Change, Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, U.S, American Medical Association, AMA, U.S . Department of Justice, DOJ, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, Change Healthcare Locations: Gainesville , Florida, U.S, Minnetonka , Minnesota, UnitedHealth's, New Mexico, Boulder , Colorado, California, New York City, UnitedHealth

☆ DJT: Trump receives 36 million shares of Trump Media worth $1.8 billion as earnout bonus
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to Trump tower during the day of his trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in New York City, U.S. , April 19, 2024. Former President Donald Trump received 36 million more shares of Trump Media Technology Group on Friday, according to a newly filed disclosure Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares were part of a contractual "earnout bonus" that Trump's eponymous media company agreed to shortly before it went public in March. At Tuesday's closing price of $49.93, Trump's newly awarded shares were worth around $1.8 billion, although he is prohibited from selling them until a six-month lockup period expires. The additional shares bring Trump's total in the newly public company to 114,750,000.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump's Organizations: Trump Media Technology Group, Securities and Exchange Commission, Trump, Nasdaq Locations: Trump, New York City, U.S

☆ Spotify's stock is surging — and its CEO is cashing out
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has sold $176.3 million worth of stock this year. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDaniel Ek, Spotify's cofounder and CEO, has sold $176.3 million worth of his stock in the streaming service this year as its shares continue to surge. On Wednesday, Ek sold roughly 400,000 shares, worth $118.8 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In a separate transaction in February, he sold 250,000 shares, worth $57.5 million, per filings.

Persons: Daniel Ek, Ek, —, Spotify's Organizations: Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Business

☆ Supreme Court rejects Elon Musk over agreement with SEC to vet social media posts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

He has long been an impulsive user of Twitter, now renamed X. Musk acquired the social media company in 2022. As part of that agreement, he signed off on the social media provision. His lawyers say in court papers that the SEC has waged an "ongoing campaign" against Musk. The provision "restricts Mr. Musk's speech even when truthful and accurate. The SEC responded in court papers that Musk had waived his right to bringing his argument when he signed off on the settlement.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Porte, WASHINGTON —, Elon Musk's, Musk Organizations: Twitter, Viva Technology, Porte de, WASHINGTON, Securities and Exchange Commission, New, Circuit, Appeals, SEC, Tesla Locations: Paris, France, New York

☆ Supreme Court gives SEC a win over Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Supreme Court rejected Elon Musk's bid to get rid of his 'Twitter sitter.' He has to get legal approval for any X posts about Tesla as part of an SEC agreement. Musk argued it limits his free speech, but the court shot him down. AdvertisementThe Supreme Court isn't going to step in to help Elon Musk get rid of his "Twitter sitter." Related storiesHe filed a petition with the Supreme Court to undo the settlement in December, arguing it limited his free speech.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Tesla, Musk, —, isn't, Elon Musk, Joe Biden Organizations: SEC, Service, Securities and Exchange, SpaceX, Musk, Bloomberg

☆ Elon Musk’s ‘Twitter sitter’ appeal over Tesla posts rejected by Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Supreme Court on Monday turned away Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s request to back out of a settlement agreement he struck with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018 over a series of tweets about the car maker that regulators alleged were fraudulent. To avoid enforcement, Musk agreed to a settlement that required him to have a company lawyer approve his social media posts about Tesla. Though he agreed to the “Twitter sitter” provision, Musk has subsequently challenged it as a violation of his First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court rejected Musk’s appeal without comment and there were no noted dissents. A US District Court and the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Musk’s request to declare the Twitter sitter provision unenforceable.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, Musk’s, ”, Musk, “ Organizations: CNN, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Court, US, Appeals

☆ Facebook cofounder accuses Tesla of being the next 'Enron'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA Facebook cofounder's attacks against Tesla continues, and it comes with one of his boldest allegations against the company to date: Tesla is the next Enron. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 26, 2024Moskovitz had not yet addressed Musk's posts on Friday. On Wednesday, the Facebook cofounder acknowledged the gravity of his comments in his social media post. Moskovitz also has long been skeptical of Elon Musk and his ventures. "I call on Elon Musk to resign," Moskovitz said on Threads last year, adding that he should resign "(from everything)."

Persons: —, Tesla, Dustin Moskovitz, Asana, Elon Musk, Musk, Dustin Moskowitz, — Elon, Moskovitz Organizations: Service, Business, Tesla, Enron, Traffic Safety Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bloomberg, Justice Department, SpaceX, Elon

☆ Standard Chartered doubles down on its prediction that bitcoin will reach $150,000 by the end of the year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bitcoin is set for more price gains later this year, even after a recent retreat in prices, according to Standard Chartered's top crypto analyst. Geoffrey Kendrick, head of foreign exchange research, West, and digital assets research at Standard Chartered, said in a research note this week that he sees bitcoin rising to $150,000 per coin, and ether hitting $8,000 by the end of 2024 — doubling down on a bullish prediction from the bank earlier this year. Bitcoin temporarily sank below $60,000 last week as traders reacted to news of an escalating military conflict between Iran and Israel. Also, large long liquidations over the past couple of weeks mean that market positioning is a lot cleaner," Kendrick said. "As a result, with Middle East tensions easing I think it is time to re-engage in medium-term longs."

Persons: Geoffrey Kendrick, Kendrick, Bitcoin, bitcoin, That's Organizations: Standard Chartered, BTC, ETH, Securities and Exchange Commission, Treasury, HK Locations: Israel, Iran, United States, U.S

☆ U.S. prosecutors seek 36-month sentence for ex-Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Changpeng Zhao, founder and CEO of Binance, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2022. U.S. prosecutors are seeking an above-guidance sentence of 36 months for the former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance on charges of enabling money laundering, according to a sentencing memorandum out late Tuesday. The memorandum, which was filed with the court for the western district of Washington, states that Zhao should serve a higher sentence that suggested under advisory guidelines to "reflect the gravity of his crimes." Under advisory guidelines, Zhao's sentencing would come in at a range of 12 to 18 months in prison. "A custodial sentence of 36 months—twice the high end of the Guidelines range—would reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for law, afford adequate deterrence, and be sufficient but not greater than necessary to achieve the goals of sentencing," U.S. prosecutors said.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, —, Binance Organizations: Viva Technology, Porte de, U.S, Bank, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Locations: Porte, Paris, Washington, U.S

☆ Philippines orders removal of Binance from Google and Apple app stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered Google and Apple to remove cryptocurrency exchange Binance from their app stores. In a press release out on Tuesday, the regulator said it had sent letters to Google and Apple requesting the removal of applications controlled by Binance from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, respectively. The agency accused Binance of offering unregistered securities to Filipinos and operating as an unregistered broker, adding that this violates the country's securities laws. Binance, Google, and Apple were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. Aquino said that blocking Binance from the Google and Apple app stores would help "prevent the further proliferation of its illegal activities in the country, and to protect the investing public from its detrimental effects on our economy."

Persons: Zhao Changpeng, Binance, Emilio Aquino, Aquino Organizations: Viva Technology, Porte de, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Google, Apple, Binance, CNBC Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Philippines, Philippine

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