Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes and three of his co-founders have received full pardons from former U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a surprising turn in the long-running legal saga surrounding the crypto exchange. The White House confirmed the pardons on Friday, which also extended to Samuel Reed and Benjamin Delo, BitMEX’s co-founders, along with senior employee Greg Dwyer and the exchange’s parent company, HDR Global Trading. The move, first reported by CNBC, comes nearly four years after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges against the group for violating the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) . In 2020, prosecutors accused BitMEX of operating as a haven for anonymous crypto trading, alleging the platform failed to implement basic Know-Your-Customer (KYC) measures. The exchange’s lax controls allegedly allowed billions of dollars to flow through its platform without proper oversight. Though all four executives eventually pleaded guilty and were sentenced to probation and fines, they have consistently claimed they were unfairly targeted. BitMEX Co-Founders Claim Vindication Following the announcement, Delo released a statement expressing relief, calling the pardon a “vindication” of their stance. He argued that BitMEX had been unjustly made an example of by regulators attempting to send a political message. “This full and unconditional pardon by President Trump is a vindication of the position we have always held — that BitMEX, my co-founders, and I should never have been charged with a criminal offense through an obscure, antiquated law,” Delo said. Meanwhile, Hayes kept his response short and direct, simply posting “thank you” on X. Trump Pardons Raise Questions Despite the pardons, BitMEX’s legal troubles are far from forgotten. In 2021, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined the exchange $100 million for violating the Commodity Exchange Act, separate from its DOJ settlements. The pardons have sparked mixed reactions within the crypto industry. While some view the move as a win for over-regulated crypto entrepreneurs, others see it as politically motivated. Trump’s decision comes just days after he pardoned Trevor Milton, former Nikola Motors CEO, and a few months after granting clemency to Ross Ulbricht , the Silk Road founder. The post Trump Pardons Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes and Co-Founders appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
