Live data from Hacker News

Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

bloomberg.com

31–40 of 267 posts

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#31
post #20
post #4

I don't understand why this is something they can settle rather than something that gets them completely shut down.

I'm more surprised that anyone still holds Tether, unless they're stuck with it. The company has been caught in lies several times before, it's not as if a $41M fine will turn them honest.

Lending rates for USDT on the major decentralized lending platforms are more favorable than other stablecoins.

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#32
post #18
post #4

I don't understand why this is something they can settle rather than something that gets them completely shut down.

The SEC is in the business of protecting investors not destroying peoples savings over a few inaccuracies. Why would misleading statements ever result in a shutdown of a company instead of a fine?

[deleted]

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#33
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is simply insolvency, not fractional reserve.

And yet, they're still operating. This is the kind of thing that makes me think the whole cryptocurrency ecosystem is a house of cards. Cryptocurrency advocates seem to be really bad at spotting and punishing incompetent and malicious actors in their markets.

It’s really an amazing case study in what happens when* you take libertarian ideology to its conclusion.

Edit: typo*

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#34
post #28
post #11

> there was never more than $61.5 million backing Tether, even as more 442 million coins were circulating at one point. Ah, pulling the classic "fractional reserve" I see.

This is simply insolvency, not fractional reserve.

Insolvency would be a better metaphor than fractional reserve. But I'm guessing* Tether doesn't actually offer to settle up in any reserve currency.

*I think it's a pretty good guess, based on the fact that Tether is still in business.

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#36
post #4

I don't understand why this is something they can settle rather than something that gets them completely shut down.

The CFTC doesn't have that authority; a company can only get shut down for a criminal offense and Tether is not accused of any crime. Only the Department of Justice can prosecute or investigate crimes, the CFTC is an independent agency and as such has no authority to do so.

All the CFTC can do is levy a fine, so both parties are fairly indifferent as to whether that money comes from a judgement or from a settlement. There could be some minor benefit of not having to admit any "wrongdoing" for press release purposes, but overall it makes no difference.

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#37
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is simply insolvency, not fractional reserve.

And yet, they're still operating. This is the kind of thing that makes me think the whole cryptocurrency ecosystem is a house of cards. Cryptocurrency advocates seem to be really bad at spotting and punishing incompetent and malicious actors in their markets.

In my opinion it's a house of cards (and Ponzi scheme), but combined with the John Maynard Keynes observation that the market can reman irrational longer than you can stay solvent (if you were to bet against it)

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#38
post #23

The CFTC claims to be helping end-customers by doing this kind of thing, but it is really taking money that could have been distributed off the table. Fining (and perhaps requiring the dismissal of) Tether's corporate officers would likely instill more discipline, but fining the company just hurts the customer.

No. This teaches scammers and customers alike that this is a risky business. Fining the corporate officers is almost certainly off the table, because Tether appears to be some form of limited liability corporation (but I don't know anything about the law in HK). Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. I'd hope the founders end up in jail for what appears to be blatant fraud... but chances are, they'll just move on to the next thing after Tether crumples.

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#39
post #18
post #4

I don't understand why this is something they can settle rather than something that gets them completely shut down.

The SEC is in the business of protecting investors not destroying peoples savings over a few inaccuracies. Why would misleading statements ever result in a shutdown of a company instead of a fine?

Because the "misleading statement" (i.e. deliberate lie) is the entire basis of Tether's business. The service they claim to provide is fiat backing for their cryptocurrency and they didn't do that. That's not "a few inaccuracies", it's fraud.

Re: Tether Fined $41M for Lying About Reserves

#40
post #38
post #23

The CFTC claims to be helping end-customers by doing this kind of thing, but it is really taking money that could have been distributed off the table. Fining (and perhaps requiring the dismissal of) Tether's corporate officers would likely instill more discipline, but fining the company just hurts the customer.

No. This teaches scammers and customers alike that this is a risky business. Fining the corporate officers is almost certainly off the table, because Tether appears to be some form of limited liability corporation (but I don't know anything about the law in HK). Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. I'd hope the founders end up in jail for what appears to be blatant fraud... but chances are, they'll just move on to t…

The CFTC mission statement is:

>"The mission of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is to promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through sound regulation."

I don't see how punishing customers accomplishes that goal.

Post reply on HN