The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned local investors against using one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, Binance. It refers to the previous circular issued against a fraudulent company illegally using the Binance brand.
On July 28, the SEC issued a warning against investing with Binance. The agency insists that the platform doesn’t have a license to work in the country and that its operation is illegal. It also reminds the public about the high level of risk and potential total loss of investments:
“Any member of the investing public dealing with the entity, making such solicitation is doing so at his/her own risk.”
In June, the SEC published a circular limiting the activities of Binance Nigeria. The circular represented the same type of warning for investors and platforms as the one it has published now. However, Binance Nigeria was a fraudulent entity without any affiliation with Binance. In response, Binance issued a cease and desist notice to Binance Nigeria.
Nigeria maintains a cautious stance on the crypto industry despite strongly promoting its central bank digital currency (CBDC). However, since its launch in 2021, adoption rates of the eNaira have fallen below expectations, prompting the central bank to explore several options to drive usage. In July, it upgraded the CBDC system with near-field communication technology, enhancing contactless payments.
From May 2023, the country introduced a 10% tax on gains from the disposal of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies. Local stakeholders called the measure “premature.”
Cointelegraph reached out to Binance for further commentaries on the SEC notice.
After days of furore directed at Rishi Sunak for the election betting scandal, now a Labour candidate is under investigation by the Gambling Commission for his own betting activity – and is immediately suspended.
Is this an equaliser in one of the grubbiest electoral sagas of recent elections? Quite possibly not.
There is no doubting the utter dismay in Labour HQ at the revelation that they too have a candidate caught up in the betting scandal.
However, if this scenario is as presented, it is hard to see an allegation being mounted that he had insider intelligence on the race – unless it can be proved he was deliberately setting out to lose.
An under-pressure Gambling Commission will investigate every candidate’s name on the spreadsheet from gambling companies of those who placed bets – but it is unclear from available facts where this will go.
The Tory betting saga, however, is more complicated and now on its 13th day.
It was almost two weeks ago that Craig Williams – Rishi Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide and former Montgomeryshire MP – admitted he had placed a bet on the election date – a date he might have known before the public at large.
He denies he committed any offence, and remains under investigation.
Laura Saunders, standing for the Tories just south in Bristol North West, has also been suspended for putting a bet on the date when her partner worked in Conservative headquarters on the election.
For most of that time, Mr Sunak has been insisting he could not suspend either candidate because of the ongoing probe by the Gambling Commission.
Ministers, as well as opponents, weighed in.
And on Tuesday he reversed that decision under that pressure.
This means there are questions about the prime minister’s own judgement and unwillingness to act on top of questions about the behaviour of those closest to him.
Image: Craig Williams and Laura Saunders have both been suspended from the Tories. Pics: PA/Laura Saunders for Bristol North West
This story has had massive cut through with the public, topping the charts for any news story in the UK – according to YouGov’s AI news tracker – for the last four days.
There is dismay from the cabinet downwards.
Labour’s own problems have undermined their own ability to go on the attack. But it is not clear that voters will see the two issues on the same scale.
The full list of the candidates running for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich is:
Charlie Caiger, independent; Tony Gould, Reform UK; Mike Hallatt, independent; Brett Alistair Mickelburgh, Lib Dems; Dan Pratt, Greens; Patrick Spencer, Conservatives.
The full list of candidates for Bristol North West is:
Caroline Gooch, Lib Dems; Darren Jones, Labour; Scarlett O’Connor, Reform UK; Mary Page, Green Party; Ben Smith, SDP.
The full list of candidates for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr is:
Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party; Oliver Lewis, Reform UK; Glyn Preston, Lib Dems; Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru; Steve Witherden, Labour.