Prosecutors Charge Four Crypto ‘Market Makers,’ Employees With Market Manipulation, Fraud

During the course of their investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents created an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency, called NextFundAI, with the help of “cooperating witnesses” and used it to “identify, disrupt, and bring these alleged fraudsters to justice,” according to a Wednesday press release. The token, according to court documents, is also a security. A representative for the FBI added that there was limited trading “activity” on the coin but declined to share any additional information beyond what is currently available in public documents, including whether the FBI worked with any crypto companies on the project. Joshua Levy, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said trading on the token was disabled during a press call Wednesday afternoon.