Bitfinex, a cryptocurrency exchange based in Hong Kong, has advised Ontario-based users to close their accounts before March 1.
The Ontario Securities Commission is a provincial government organisation in Canada that regulates the securities industry in the province. All marketplaces and intermediaries, including cryptocurrency exchanges, are subject to its regulation. Since March 2018, the regulator has pursued these crypto exchanges via judicial measures.
Bitfinex said on Friday that accounts for Ontario-based clients with no funds on the platform would be closed immediately. It is also intended to limit access to individuals without open positions in the exchange’s peer-to-peer financing market or open margin positions.
On March 1, Bitfinex will stop providing services to its roughly 15 million Ontario residents, including Toronto and Ottawa. Customers has advised to withdraw funds before the effective date.
Several crypto exchanges operating in the region, including OKEx, Bybit, KuCoin, and Polo Digital Assets, have been shut down due to actions taken by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).
According to sources, Binance was not authorised “to provide trading in derivatives or securities to people or firms situated in the province” by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) in December. On the other hand, the cryptocurrency exchange had previously said that it would be allowed to continue operating in the area. Binance later clarified that there had been a misunderstanding.
Regulators in the United States have also targeted Bitfinex. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission penalised Bitfinex and its twin business Tether $42.5 million in October, alleging that Bitfinex facilitated “illegal, off-exchange retail commodity transactions in digital assets with United States individuals.” Previously, the Attorney General’s Office of New York ordered the two businesses to pay $18.5 million in penalties and commit to monthly reporting on their reserves.
Read Also: Tether froze three Ethereum addresses
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are subject to market risks, and individuals should seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.
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