Chinese judicial authorities meet to discuss crypto legal issues

CoinEx Reveals Insights Into Recent Platform HackHong Kong crypto exchange CoinEx has issued a further update relative to the security breach that occurred on the platform last week resulting in one of the exchange’s hot wallets being compromised.Photo by FLY:D on UnsplashImmediate responseIn the immediate aftermath of the $70 million hack, CoinEx took action to safeguard user assets and initiate an investigation into the incident. It suspended all deposit and withdrawal services and executed an emergency shutdown of the hot wallet server. Following this, the company securely moved the remaining assets to cold storage, commencing the process of reconstructing and deploying a new wallet architecture.The firm also engaged in an investigation, spearheaded by its wallet and security teams, to ascertain the extent of the breach. Moreover, CoinEx claims to have proactively reached out to fellow exchanges to freeze any assets related to the attack.Haipo Yang, the Founder and CEO of CoinEx, conveyed his apologies to affected users through his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. He emphasized the team’s commitment to restoring services promptly and reassured users that their funds will remain secure.Following up on that commitment, CoinEx published an update on the hot wallet hack on September 15 to address these concerns individually.New wallet deploymentThe exchange expects to finalize wallet upgrades within the upcoming week, after which withdrawals will gradually be phased in, subject to security evaluations. The CoinEx team is currently working on developing and deploying an entirely new and robust wallet system capable of managing activities across 211 chains and 737 assets.The firm has outlined that each of its product lines operates independently, featuring its own risk control system. Consequently, the security incident that occurred on CoinEx will not affect the integrity of its other product lines.In its most recent update on Tuesday, the Hong Kong crypto exchange confirmed that 80% of its wallet system has now been reconstructed. It added that it has initiated preparations to enable the withdrawal system on the platform. It stated:”Details about the resumption of withdrawals, including specific dates, times, and arrangements, will be announced on the CoinEx website. Please stay updated on our announcements for the latest information.”Ongoing investigationRegarding the identity of the attacker, CoinEx has confirmed that the matter is currently under investigation. While some security firms have made attribution claims, the company is focusing primarily on deploying the new wallet architecture, restoring affected users and functionalities, and enhancing overall security.At the same time, the company has initiated communications with the hackers in a bid to proactively seek a mutually agreeable resolution. While the incident implicates the loss of a substantial amount of funds, the firm maintains that in the context of the overall business, the sum represents only a small percentage of total assets under its management.Exchange security remains a major challenge in the crypto sector, with hacks happening on an ongoing basis. Last week, Seychelles-headquartered peer-to-peer crypto platform Remitano acknowledged a $2.7 million hack. At the beginning of September, crypto gambling platform Stake was reported to have suffered a $41 million hack.

Nod to Gender Diversity as ZORIXchange Appoints Female CEOIn an industry historically dominated by men, Dilys Cheng’s recent appointment as the CEO of Dubai-based ZORIXchange’s digital assets platform marks a progressive step in achieving gender diversity in the cryptocurrency space.The Middle Eastern crypto exchange business announced the appointment via a press release which was published on Monday.Photo by JÉSHOOTS on PexelsBanking backgroundThe firm articulated that Cheng, who hails from Nantou in Taiwan, gained experience in the banking world, igniting a fervent passion for streamlining financial ecosystems. Her eagerness to simplify these processes dovetailed with the potential of blockchain technology, propelling her on a mission of transformation.Leveraging her extensive background in finance, Cheng has merged her expertise in fiat exchanges with the emerging capabilities of blockchain technology. Her tenure as the former Director of Asia Blockchain Accelerator showcased her acumen, propelling startups toward global expansion by harnessing the power of blockchain.Addressing a gender imbalanceThe company also outlined the importance of the appointment from the perspective of gender equality, in an industry that is not well represented by women. The press release goes on to state that Cheng herself “places a strong emphasis on gender equality.” Cognizant of the formidable challenges women encounter in what is very much a male-dominated sector, it appears that Cheng has made the subject a cornerstone of her agenda.Cheng stated: “As we evolve technologically, it’s equally imperative that our culture evolves.”DiversificationThe gender diversity problem in crypto has long been recognized. When it comes to venture capital-backed crypto startups, less than 20% implicate female startup founders.Her rise through the ranks is more than just a professional achievement; it symbolizes the dismantling of merit-based glass ceilings and underscores the ongoing progress in society. Cheng’s ascendancy signifies a profound shift in the crypto realm, one that champions innovation and inclusiveness.From the perspective of investors, a study carried out by Gemini in 2021 found that only 26% of crypto investors were women. The issue isn’t confined to crypto and extends across the broader finance and technology spaces in general. A McKinsey study highlighted that 64% of C-suite executives in financial services were men, with 23% being women.ZORIXchange was founded in 2022 by David Pan. Pan previously worked for KPMG in Taiwan as its COO for Startups and Innovation. In 2018 he left KPMG to establish the ACE crypto exchange in Taiwan. ZORIXchange builds on his experience in the exchange business, within the Middle Eastern market and beyond. ZORIX has offices not only in Dubai, but also in Malaysia and Singapore. The firm has plans to extend its geographical offering further, with a proposed expansion into Hong Kong and Australia in the works.According to a press release published earlier this year, the company is focusing on getting compliance right. With that, it is in the process of acquiring licensing in Dubai, having previously obtained crypto trading licenses in Lithuania and Slovakia.The exchange is expected to launch fully in September, with plans to offer fiat withdrawal and deposit options, together with a debit card product.

Illiquid Token Sinks OPNX’s $30 Million Hodlnaut BidThe interim judicial managers overseeing the restructuring process of troubled Singaporean crypto lender Hodlnaut have firmly opposed the takeover offer presented by OPNX, the Dubai-based crypto bankruptcy claims trading platform associated with the founders of the now-defunct hedge fund, Three Arrows Capital.Photo by Image Hunter on PexelsSpeculative token valueIn a report published on Tuesday, Bloomberg referred to a recent court filing in which the administrators of Hodlnaut had characterized OPNX’s $30 million bid in FLEX digital tokens as “illiquid” and bearing “speculative value.” Additionally, a significant portion of Hodlnaut Group’s creditors, representing 60% of the total debt, had also voiced their dissent towards the proposed OPNX deal.Hodlnaut, headquartered in Singapore with operations in Hong Kong, found itself among the casualties of the $1.5 trillion crypto market downturn last year. OPNX had expressed its interest in taking control of Hodlnaut last month.Among the concerns raised by managers were the absence of a cash injection or assets with readily available liquidity, such as Bitcoin or Ether. Furthermore, there was no clear timeline provided for the repayment of creditors’ debts, and the proposal lacked detailed information regarding payments, which are limited to just 30% of liabilities, according to the court-appointed supervisors of Hodlnaut’s restructuring.FLEX token offeringThe FLEX token, associated with the CoinFLEX exchange, whose founders Mark Lamb and Sudhu Arumugam launched OPNX earlier this year, is at the center of the proposal. Currently, it holds a market value of approximately $54.4 million. However, its trading volume remains low. Moreover, its unit value stands at $0.55, marking a substantial 95% decrease from a month ago when the offer was first submitted to the Singapore court, as per data from CoinGecko.The deal would have meant OPNX taking a 75% stake in the business. Previously, Hodlnaut’s founders Simon Lee and Zhu Juntao had put forward a proposal of a business sale rather than liquidating the company as the preferred option.Su Zhu and Kyle Davies, co-founders of Singapore’s Three Arrows Capital, played instrumental roles in the inception of OPNX, joining with the CoinFLEX founders in establishing the bankruptcy claims trading platform. Despite their initial contributions, it’s worth noting that Zhu has previously clarified that neither he nor Davies are involved in the day-to-day management of the exchange.Regulatory sanctionsIn recent developments, Zhu and Davies were sanctioned with a nine-year ban by the Monetary Authority of Singapore due to violations connected to their collapsed hedge fund firm, which operated out of Singapore. Furthermore, in August, authorities in Dubai levied fines against Zhu, Davies, Mark Lamb, OPNX CEO Leslie Lamb, and Arumugam for operating and promoting OPNX without the required local license.The rejection of OPNX’s bid by Hodlnaut’s bankruptcy administrators underscores the challenges implicated by illiquid tokens. The fate of Hodlnaut remains uncertain, pending further developments in the ongoing legal proceedings, and will depend upon its management’s efforts in finding a new buyer for the business.