The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has successfully secured a $2.5 million order against the crypto platform Debiex, following accusations that it ran a romance scam responsible for defrauding customers of approximately $2.3 million. A federal judge ruled on March 13, 2025, that Debiex's failure to respond to the CFTC’s lawsuit was not due to excusable neglect. The CFTC stated that Debiex engaged in a 'pig butchering' scheme, where staff built romantic relationships with victims on social media to instill trust, ultimately convincing them to invest in the platform. The court found that funds deposited by five victims were misappropriated, with Debiex sharing false information regarding account balances and trading profits. Additionally, Zhāng Chéng Yáng, identified as a 'money mule' for Debiex, had his crypto wallet implicated, with the judge ordering funds to be transferred to an affected victim. Debiex was accused of being a front for criminal activity rather than a legitimate trading platform.

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