US Court Orders Operator of South African Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme to Pay Over $3.4 Billion

Johann Steynberg, the founder and CEO of Mirror Trading International, has been ordered to pay over $1.73 billion in restitution to victims of his bitcoin ponzi scheme. The court has also ordered Steynberg to pay a civil monetary penalty of a similar amount. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) conceded that orders requiring payment of … Read more

Brazilian Judge Dismisses Bitcoin Scam Mastermind’s Attempt to Block His Extradition to South Africa

A Brazilian judge has ruled that the CEO of Mirror Trading International should remain in precautionary detention as authorities in South Africa have already furnished their Brazilian counterparts with the documentation that is required for extradition purposes. The judge also rejected Johann Steynberg’s attempts to use his Brazilian family as the basis for seeking an … Read more

Masterminds Behind South African Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme Told to Pay Back Over $291 Million

Masterminds of one of South Africa’s biggest bitcoin Ponzi schemes, Mirror Trading International (MTI), have been asked by the scheme’s liquidators to pay back over $291 million to cover the scam operation’s debts. Liquidators’ Influence Liquidators of the South African bitcoin Ponzi scheme, Mirror Trading International (MTI), have issued summonses against eighteen individuals believed to … Read more

MTI Mastermind Arrest: Lawyer Points to Agreement Relating to Johann Steynberg’s Extradition to South Africa

With Johann Steynberg now in custody in Brazil, a lawyer has suggested that South Africa may have to resort to an existing legal assistance agreement with Brazil if it wishes to have the CEO extradited. However, the success of any such extradition will depend on the next steps taken by authorities in Brazil. Steynberg Extradition … Read more

CEO of Mirror Trading International Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme Arrested in Brazil

Johann Steynberg, the wanted CEO of Mirror Trading International was recently arrested by Brazilian law enforcement after he was caught using a fake document. The arrest, which took place in the country’s Goiás province, was carried out by the Brazilian military police. Fake IDs, Laptops, and Credit Cards Seized Johann Steynberg, the CEO of Mirror … Read more

Report: Mirror Trading International Said to Be Owed Over $129 Million by Previously Unaccounted for Debtors

Mirror Trading International, the now-defunct fraudulent bitcoin investment platform, is said to be owed more than $129 million by debtors that had not been declared previously. Unaccounted for Debtors Liquidators of the collapsed South African bitcoin Ponzi scheme, Mirror Trading International (MTI), recently released a statement that suggested the scheme is owed as much as … Read more

Bid to Have MTI Ponzi Declared Unlawful Scheme Suffers Setback — More Investors Oppose Motion

A slew of late court filings by lawyers representing Mirror Trading International (MTI) investors has forced a South African judge to postpone the hearing of the liquidators’ application to have the online bitcoin scam declared an illegal business. Concern Over Implications of Declaration Order As a Mybroadband report explains, the investors’ belated decisions to oppose … Read more

South Africa Regulator Wants Mirror Trading International to Pay Millions as Penalty For Contravening Financial Sector Law

A South African regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), has informed key figures behind Mirror Trading International (MTI) that it intends to impose a fine of $7 million against the now-defunct crypto investment company. Contravention of Financial Sector Law According to a July 6 letter, which has also been sent to the CEO and … Read more

South African Regulators Reportedly Fast-Tracking Crypto Regulatory Framework

With South Africa receiving more than its fair share of cryptocurrency-related scams, a report suggests that regulators are responding to this challenge by fast-tracking the process of creating a new regulatory framework. As a result, regulators now expect this process, which was preceded “by the publication of proposals earlier in June,” to be complete “in … Read more

Co-Owner of Mirror Trading International Opposes Plans to Liquidate the Bitcoin Scam Outfit

In the latest twist to the Mirror Trading International liquidation saga, Clynton Marks, a co-owner of the bitcoin Ponzi outfit, has opposed attempts to have a court grant a final liquidation order. Marks, who reportedly owned 50% of MTI, argues that the liquidation application was “premature” and that liquidators may “not have the members’ best … Read more