Cryptocurrency Firm Founder Pleads Guilty to Market Manipulation Charges

The founder of a cryptocurrency financial services firm pleaded guilty on Friday to U.S. charges related to his involvement in a wide-ranging scheme to manipulate the market for digital tokens. The charges allege that he worked on behalf of client companies to artificially inflate the value of digital assets, a practice that is illegal under U.S. securities laws. The guilty plea highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny of the cryptocurrency industry.