ASIC, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, has filed a civil lawsuit against the NGS firms and Brett Mendham, Ryan Brown, and Mark Ten Caten, the directors of those companies.
After NGS Crypto Pty Ltd, NGS Digital Pty Ltd, and NGS Group Ltd (collectively, the “NGS companies”), three cryptocurrency mining companies, collapsed, hundreds of Australian investors lost over 160 million Australian dollars ($104 million).
Once these firms went into liquidation, this financial disaster started to happen.
ASIC, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, has filed a civil lawsuit against the NGS firms and Brett Mendham, Ryan Brown, and Mark Ten Caten, the directors of those companies.
It is said that these firms lured regional investors into creating self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs), which were subsequently transformed into cryptocurrency investments in fixed-rate returns blockchain mining packages.
Around 450 investors allegedly deposited about 62 million AUD ($40 million) with these entities, according to ASIC, despite the fact that they lacked the necessary Australian financial services license.
Due to the commission's worries about potential loss of digital assets, the Federal Court decided to assign liquidators to manage the digital currency holdings of the NGS firms.
Furthermore, Brett Mendham is not allowed to leave Australia.
Additionally, the regulator has taken action to stop NGS firms from providing financial services in the nation without the required authorization.
ASIC Chair Joe Longo underlined the dangers of SMSF cryptocurrency investments and reaffirmed the agency's commitment to regulate crypto goods to protect investors.
The liquidator of these businesses, KordaMentha, has discovered debts owed to 100 investors totaling 100 million AUD ($65 million).
Additionally, director of DCA Capital Ashod Balanian's assets, valued at 55 million AUD ($36 million), have been frozen by the federal court, and he has been forced to forfeit his passport.
ASIC's heightened examination in recent months is indicative of a more comprehensive regulatory approach.
The necessity to address the "regulatory trilemma," which involves striking a balance between consumer protection, market integrity, and the encouragement of financial innovation, was brought up by ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland on March 21.
The Australian cryptocurrency market is still developing as it gets closer to a major "inflection point" in demand.
While there is still no institutional demand locally, there may be growing interest due to stablecoin growth potential and positive policy changes.
April 2024, Cryptoniteuae