Celsius’ Mashinsky lashes out at ‘death-in-prison sentence’
Alex Mashinsky, the founder and former CEO of bankrupt crypto lending platform Celsius, has blasted the government’s 20-year “venom-laced” sentence request, declaring it a “death-in-prison sentence.”
The US Department of Justice requested Mashinsky receive at least 20 years behind bars in the May 8 sentencing for his role in misleading Celsius users and profiting from the price manipulation of Celsius (CEL), which would make the 59-year-old 79 if he serves the whole sentence.
Lawyers acting for Mashinsky argued in a May 5 reply memorandum filed in a New York district court that he should receive no more than 366 days, because the DOJ hasn’t taken into account his status as a nonviolent first-time offender with a previously unblemished 30-year history in business.
“The government’s venom-laced submission recasts this case as one involving a predator with an intent to target victims, harm them, and steal their money,” they said.
“It concludes by recommending that a first time, nonviolent offender who pled guilty and accepts responsibility receive a death-in-prison sentence.”
Mashinsky pleaded guilty to two out of seven charges
As part of a plea agreement, Mashinsky pleaded guilty in December 2024 to commodities fraud and manipulating the price of CEL, earning $48 million by selling his holdings before Celsius collapsed in June 2022. Prosecutors initially filed seven charges in July 2023.
Lawyers acting for Mashinsky allege the DOJ’s push for a 20-year sentence is because their client is unwilling to “capitulate to the government’s exaggerated characterizations of his actions,” specifically that he was a “fraud from the get-go.”
“Alex is inserted as the scapegoat for every corporate action, every group decision, every unanimous vote, every market fluctuation, and every employee’s watercooler speculation,” they said.
As part of its April 28 sentencing request, the DOJ said Mashinsky’s guilty plea showed that his crimes were deliberate, calculated decisions to lie, deceive and steal.
Days earlier on April 23, US federal prosecutors also filed statements from hundreds of victims who lost money due to the Celsius collapse. They detailed how some had entrusted their life savings to the protocol, believing Mashinsky’s assurances that it was safe.
Related: What do crypto users want to happen to Alex Mashinsky?
Celsius filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 13, 2022, owing $4.7 billion to creditors after halting withdrawals in June, citing volatile market conditions.
In November 2023, a US bankruptcy court approved Celsius’ restructuring plan to repay customers, and in August 2024, $2.53 billion was paid to 251,000 creditors.
Former Celsius chief revenue officer Roni Cohen-Pavon also pleaded guilty in September 2023 to similar charges, but his Dec. 11 sentencing has been delayed until after Mashinsky is sentenced.
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The UK and India have struck an “ambitious” trade deal that will slash tariffs on products such as whisky and gin.
The agreement will also see Indian tariffs cut on cosmetics and medical devices and will deliver a £4.8bn boost to the UK economy, according to the government.
It is also expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5bn, UK GDP by £4.8bn and wages by £2.2bn each year in the long term.
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The news will be a welcome boost for the government following poor local election results, which saw Labour lose the Runcorn by-election and control of Doncaster Council to a resurgent Reform UK.
What will also be touted as a victory for Downing Street is the fact the government managed to strike a deal with India before the White House.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer hailed the “historic day for the United Kingdom and for India”.
“This is the biggest trade deal that we, the UK, have done since we left the EU,” the prime minister said.
What trade-offs are in the ‘historic’ deal with India?
This is the most significant trade deal Britain has negotiated since Brexit. It has been three years in the making with round the clock negotiations taking place in recent days.
Britain and India were coming from very different starting points. India’s economy is notoriously protectionist, with average tariff rates floating at around 130%. The UK, by comparison, is a very open economy. Our tariff rates hover around 5%. It means there were many prizes on offer for UK exporters, who are eyeing up a rapidly growing economy with increasingly powerful consumers.
The government will point to considerable concessions on 90% of tariff lines, 85% of them will go down to zero within the decade. It includes wins on whisky, which within ten years will be halved from the current 150%. No other country has managed to get India to move on that.
Of course there are trade-offs involved. The UK has agreed to lower tariffs on Indian textiles and apparel- a big employer in India. It will also make it easier for Indian professionals to come to the UK, something the Indians have been pushing hard on. However, there will be no formal changes to immigration policy.
Both countries have also refused to budge on certain industries. The UK has not lowered tariffs on milled rice, out of fear it could decimate native industries. The same applies to dairy for the Indians. Both sides have agreed quotas on cars for the same reason.
The Indians were pushing for an exemption for its high emission industries from the UK’s upcoming carbon tax. It is understood that will not happen.
“And it’s the most ambitious trade deal that India has ever done. And this will be measured in billions of pounds into our economy and jobs across the whole of the United Kingdom.
“So it is a really important, significant day. “
In a post on X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed the agreement as a “historic milestone” and added: “I look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.”
Negotiations for the deal relaunched in March after stalling under the Tory government over issues including trade standards and the relaxation of visa rules for Indian workers.
Overall, 90% of tariff lines will be reduced under the deal, with 85% of those becoming fully tariff-free within a decade.
Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75% before falling to 40% by year ten of the deal, while automotive tariffs will go from more than 100% to 10% under a quota, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said.
For Indian consumers, there will be reduced tariffs on cosmetics, aerospace, lamb, medical devices, salmon, electrical machinery, soft drinks, chocolate and biscuits.
Meanwhile, British shoppers could see cheaper prices and more choice on products including clothes, footwear, and food products including frozen prawns as the UK liberalises tariffs.
India’s trade ministry said that under the deal, 99% of Indian exports will benefit from zero duty, Britain will remove a tariff on textile imports and Indian employees working in the UK will be exempt from social security payments for three years.
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Shadow trade secretary Andrew Griffith added: “It’s good to see the government recognise that reducing cost and burdens on businesses in international trade is a good thing, and that thanks to Brexit we can do.
“But it would be even better if they would apply the same reasoning to our domestic economy, where they remain intent on raising taxes, energy costs and regulatory burdens.”
The news was also welcomed by business group the British Chamber of Commerce, which said it was a “welcome lift for our exporters”.
William Bain, head of trade policy, said: ”Against the backdrop of mounting trade uncertainty across the globe, these tariff reductions will be a big relief. Products from Scotch whisky to clothing will benefit and this will give UK companies exporting to India a clear edge on increasing sales.
“The proposals for a follow-up investment treaty will also provide a solid platform to grow manufacturing and other sectors in our two economies.”
Representative Maxine Waters, ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee (HFSC), led Democratic lawmakers out of a joint hearing on digital assets in response to what she called “the corruption of the President of the United States” concerning cryptocurrencies.
In a May 6 joint hearing of the HFSC and House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Waters remained standing while addressing Republican leadership, saying she intended to block proceedings due to Donald Trump’s corruption, “ownership of crypto,” and oversight of government agencies. Digital asset subcommittee chair Bryan Steil, seemingly taking advantage of a loophole in committee rules, said Republican lawmakers would continue with the event as a “roundtable” rather than a hearing.
HFSC Chair French Hill urged lawmakers at the hearing to create a “lasting framework” on digital assets, but did not directly address any of Rep. Waters’ and Democrats’ concerns about Trump’s involvement with the crypto industry. He claimed Waters was making the hearing a partisan issue and shutting down discussion on a digital asset regulatory framework.
This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.
Veteran US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official Trish Turner was appointed to lead the agency’s digital assets division following the departure of two key crypto-focused executives.
Turner, who has spent over 20 years at the IRS and most recently served as a senior adviser within the Digital Assets Office, will now head the unit, according to a report from Bloomberg Tax citing a person familiar with the situation.
Her promotion marks a significant leadership transition at a time when US crypto tax enforcement is facing both internal and external pressures.
On May 5, Sulolit “Raj” Mukherjee and Seth Wilks, two private-sector experts brought in to lead the IRS’s crypto unit, exited after roughly a year in their roles.
Mukherjee served as compliance and implementation executive director, while Wilks oversaw strategy and development. Wilks announced his departure on LinkedIn, while Mukherjee confirmed his decision in a statement to Bloomberg Tax.
“The reality is that federal employees have faced a very difficult environment over the past few months,” Wilks wrote. “If stepping aside helps preserve someone else’s job, then I am at peace with the decision.”
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IRS ramps up crypto scrutiny
The IRS has ramped up its focus on cryptocurrency in recent years, increasing audits and criminal probes targeting digital asset transactions.
It also attempted to introduce broad crypto broker reporting requirements, which drew sharp criticism from industry stakeholders and was eventually overturned by President Donald Trump.
Set to take effect in 2027, the so-called IRS DeFi broker rule would have expanded the tax authority’s existing reporting requirements to include DeFi platforms, requiring them to disclose gross proceeds from crypto sales, including information regarding taxpayers involved in the transactions.
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Turner’s leadership also comes during a shift in Washington’s approach to crypto regulation.
With the return of the Trump administration in January, federal agencies have scaled back regulations perceived as burdensome to digital asset innovation.
For instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped or paused over a dozen enforcement cases against crypto companies. Additionally, the Department of Justice has announced the dissolution of its cryptocurrency enforcement unit, signaling a softer approach to the sector.
Internally, the IRS is also navigating instability. Over 23,000 employees have reportedly expressed interest in resigning after Trump reintroduced a deferred resignation policy, raising concerns about long-term staffing and morale within the agency.
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