Blockchain
From Covid Bounce Back Loan Fraud to Cryptoassets
- 2023’s Top Trends In Corporate Crime And Financial Investigations
LONDON – The Investigations and Resolutions team at leading Chambers 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square predicts key trends.
1. Public inquiries
The Public Inquiries team at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has long been associated with high profile and sensitive Public Inquiries. Ramya Nagesh, a barrister who has worked on some of the largest inquiries and inquests of the last decade, including the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Grenfell Inquiry, the Post Office Inquiry and the Hillsborough Inquests, is clear this area isn’t likely to slow down next year:
“In 2010, the number of simultaneously open public inquiries reached its peak at 16 concurrent open inquiries. Over ten years later, it would be fair to say that the appetite for inquiries has not significantly diminished. In the last few years alone, we have seen the Grenfell Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and we are soon to see the start of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.”
2. Cryptoassets go mainstream
Rowena Wisniewska Sethi, a barrister specialising in financial regulation, predicts increased regulation on crypto will bring a real need for better understanding of blockchain and DLT (blockchain-based registration system).
She says: “Over the next year, the focus in crypto is likely to be not only on the virtual assets themselves but on the clever ways we can use DLT; for example, as a ‘block’ storage mechanism for digital records across a network, and bulk storing smart contracts (such as travel insurance). HM Treasury announced in April that it will bring stable coins into the UK regulatory perimeter; we will also see an increasing focus on the regulation of some cryptoassets in financial services. Ultimately, this means that cryptoassets are likely to become more mainstream as a form of payment and so it will be important for advisors to have a deep understanding of blockchain and the uses of DLT as well as how cryptoassets are stored and regulated.”
3. Billions in Covid bounce back loan fraud
One area likely to be under scrutiny is fraud emerging from the Government’s Covid-19 financial support packages.
White-collar crime expert barrister Raoul Colvile, says:
“Around £47 billion of loans were issued, and it is estimated that around 11% (£4.9 billion) were potentially fraudulently obtained. From a legal perspective, there are various routes that may be open to enforcement agencies, in both the criminal and civil spheres. There is obvious scope for fraud charges, and there are examples of Account Freezing Orders being obtained. Outside the criminal sphere, director disqualifications, bankruptcy restrictions, and winding up petitions have all been pursued.”
A barrister specialising in investigations, Max Shephard, says: “The government recently announced that it will be closing down the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce, a unit charged with the recovery of stolen money from Covid support schemes, in March next year. Given the ongoing cost of living crisis, and the highly political nature of preserving public funds, it will be interesting to see what lies ahead in a counter-fraud landscape.”
4. Non-financial misconduct
In the aftermath of both MeToo and 2020’s racial justice protests, there will continue to be scrutiny on non-financial forms of misconduct, including sexual misconduct, racism and bullying or harassment.
Public and regulatory law expert Thomas Francis, says: “In recent years the FCA has opened several investigations into alleged non-financial misconduct, of which some high-profile examples include the financial penalty imposed on the former CEO of Barclays in relation to attempts to unmask a whistle-blower and the prohibitions sought and obtained against three IFAs convicted in 2018 of serious sexual offences. This heightened focus, carrying with it the possibility of enforcement action, has had an industry-wide effect – and will continue to do so over the coming years.”
5. The battle against money laundering in offshore jurisdictions
Nikesh Pandit, a barrister specialising in financial services, says: “Our barristers are regularly instructed by offshore clients, including offshore financial regulators. A key area of instructions in this regard is anti-money laundering (AML) and combating terrorist financing (CTF) investigations. This reflects an increasing drive in offshore jurisdictions to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism through the implementation of international standards and enhanced resources for national authorities to take action.”
Regulatory specialist Iulia Şaran, says: “Whilst challenges remain, recent MONEYVAL (Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism) reports have highlighted improvements. For example, the application of corrective sanctions for infringements of legislation in Gibraltar, Estonia, Jersey and Malta, which aim to make sanctions for violations of anti-money laundering standards more effective and dissuasive. Jersey has been recognised for introducing a digital register which leverages AI technology and third-party KYC (Know Your Client) data for improved vetting of beneficial ownership and control.”
— ENDS–
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Kathryn Adamson, [email protected], Mobile (+44) 0771 713 3595
NOTES TO EDITORS
4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is a leading public and commercial law chambers. The core areas of law are public, commercial, planning & property, dispute resolution, international, regulatory & disciplinary and sports. The Investigations & Resolutions team has considerable expertise in different regimes and sectors. In particular, our business crime and financial regulation specialists have significant first-hand experience of working with prosecutors and regulators at every stage. In addition, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square’s public inquiries team have been involved in some of the most notable cases in recent times.
Source: RealWire
Blockchain
Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment Market to Hit Valuation of US$ 31.61 Billion By 2032 | Astute Analytica
DYOR Labs, a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) research and trading platform, has unveiled a groundbreaking suite of blockchain-powered advanced analytics & trading tools aimed at breaking down barriers for retail & institutional investors.
Under the leadership of former Hollywood actor turned tech entrepreneur and blockchain advocate Ben Kurland, DYOR labs is one of the rare platforms fully integrating blockchain technology across its entire suite of tools. DYOR Labs has quickly solidified its position as a leader in decentralized finance (DeFi) innovation by seamlessly integrating with major blockchain networks, including Base, Ethereum, Polygon, and Solana. These integrations ensure the platform’s scalability, security, and interoperability across the DeFi ecosystem. Within its first month of launch, DYOR Labs has evaluated over 1 million blockchain projects and attracted nearly 50,000 new users, demonstrating its rapid adoption and impact.
Strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Alchemy, Debridge, UNCX, Solidproof, and Moralis have laid a strong foundation for the platform’s continued growth. Financial backing from renowned investors like Ghaff Capital, IBC, and OZARU further validates DYOR Labs’ credibility. Additionally, endorsements from over 75 influential figures—including Altcoin Daily, Crypto Banter, Mario Nawfal, Carl from the Moon, and Crypto Lark—have amplified its reach, reinforcing its role as a transformative force in DeFi.
This positions it as a leader in fostering transparency and trust in a market often plagued by complexity and lack of accountability. By combining cutting-edge analytics, real-time data, and robust customization features, DYOR labs is redefining how traders, developers and investors engage with the blockchain ecosystem.
Speaking on the platform’s growth, Ben Kurland, CEO of DYOR Labs, said, “Crypto tools shouldn’t feel like they require a PhD to use or trust, At DYOR, we’ve created a platform so intuitive it feels like second nature—whether you’re a trader looking for your edge or a project team trying to scale professionally. It’s time for Web3 to offer the same world-class usability that Web2 has delivered for decades.”
He further added, “Our mission is to simplify DeFi while addressing its biggest challenges. Traders deserve a seamless, user-first platform, and project teams need professional-grade tools to run their tokens and businesses effectively. DYOR Labs is here to bridge that gap, empowering the entire crypto community to thrive.”
Key platform features include:
Offering a cutting-edge suite of features designed to empower both traders and developers in the decentralized finance space, DYOR users gain real-time advanced insights with instant access to comprehensive token data and market activity. The platform’s unparalleled trading tools deliver unmatched speed and cost efficiency, whilst customizable dashboards allow users of all experience levels to personalize workflows with saved presets, multi-chart tabs, and tailored features. For developers, the Team Dashboards provide a powerful solution to create and edit project pages, showcase metrics, and build community trust through transparency. With fiat on/off ramp integration, cross-chain swaps, and a native DEX and aggregator, DYOR Labs ensures seamless trading across blockchains, delivering the fastest and most cost-effective transactions in DeFi.
What’s Next?
DYOR Labs continues to innovate, with upcoming features that include AI-Powered Insights, Missions and Quests to gamify user engagement, the first ever onchain ad auctions, enhanced team dashboards for token project management, live social media feeds integrated directly into token pages and cross-chain swaps, putting the platform at the forefront of DeFi innovation, creating a seamless and transparent ecosystem for users and developers alike.
The post DYOR Labs Unveils Advanced Blockchain-Powered Analytics and Trading Tools appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
Former MD of SUI Foundation, Greg Siourounis, Joins xMoney Global as Co-Founder and CEO to build MiCA-Regulated Stablecoin Platform
xMoney Global, the global, inter-bank and cross crypto/fiat integrated payments platform has appointed award-winning economist Dr. Greg Siourounis as Co-Founder and CEO. The company is a Mastercard principal member, with strategic European licenses, such as e-Money and VASP.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve with the coming MiCA regulation, xMoney Global intends to lead Europe into this new transformative EU regulated stablecoin era. Greg Siourounis will lead the integration of xMoney’s advanced blockchain-enabled payments infrastructure with its upcoming stablecoin program. Stablecoins are a key driver of blockchain adoption in today’s market, now surpassing Bitcoin, remittances, and PayPal in annual transaction volume. As such, xMoney’s Global reputation positions it to bridge Web3 innovation with traditional finance, leading Europe into a new transformative EU regulated stablecoin era.
Dr. Greg, who has played a pioneering role in the growth of Sui Foundation as its former Managing Director and who previously founded Everypay, will drive xMoney Global’s next wave of growth. Beyond the standard reference of his academic work in 2024’s Nobel Prize in Economics, Dr. Greg’s career is also decorated with awards such as the 2005 Young Economist Award from The European Economic Association and the 2008 Austin Robinson Prize from The Royal Economic Society. His immediate target will be to focus on partnerships, regulatory alignment and market expansion, as xMoney Global looks to build a comprehensive payments platform that bridges legacy financial systems with the potential of decentralized finance.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Greg Siourounis, CEO of xMoney Global, said, “As Europe prepares to embrace MiCA regulation, xMoney Global is positioned to redefine what compliant, secure, and seamless digital payments can be. Our goal is to deliver a solid and trusted ecosystem that combines the strengths of traditional finance with the flexibility of blockchain technology to create a future-ready payment experience.”
Beniamin Mincu, Co-founder of MultiversX, said, “xMoney Global’s mission aligns perfectly with the vision of MultiversX to bring scalable and secure blockchain solutions to mainstream finance. This appointment marks a significant step toward building a more inclusive and resilient financial system.”
The launch of xMoney Global aims to offer a next-gen blockchain-as-a-service module backed by its native stablecoin, with key white-labeled services including acquiring, issuing, onramps/offramps and a sticky loyalty program, all backed by MultiversX’s state-of-the-art sharding technology. Following the surge in crypto markets after Trump’s pro-crypto Presidential win, xMoney will be ideally placed to accelerate real-world adoption as the easiest way for everyone (consumers, retail and e-commerce) to seamlessly access fiat and crypto currencies in an app, card or payment gateway.
The post Former MD of SUI Foundation, Greg Siourounis, Joins xMoney Global as Co-Founder and CEO to build MiCA-Regulated Stablecoin Platform appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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