Cryptocurrency influencers and platforms continue to make headlines for various reasons. Here are some of the latest news items from the industry:

Ben Armstrong, popularly known as “BitBoy Crypto,” was ordered by a federal magistrate judge to appear in court on April 20 to address allegations of harassment towards plaintiffs’ counsel in a lawsuit involving several crypto influencers. However, Armstrong failed to appear and instead shared pictures of himself on a beach in the Bahamas on social media, openly mocking the court order. The judge’s order follows a lawsuit filed by prominent influencers against Armstrong and other influencers, accusing them of promoting a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme called Bitconnect.

Meanwhile, a former assistant director of the United States Secret Service Office of Investigations, Jeremy Sheridan, has warned that certain FTX customers could be at risk if their personal information were to be made public. In an April 20 declaration filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Sheridan supported a motion from the debtors to withhold “certain confidential information” of FTX users. Sheridan stated that releasing the names of customers associated with the failed crypto exchange could lead to “a severe and unusual risk of identity theft, asset theft, personal attack, and further online victimization.”

In other news, Chinese journalist Collin Wu has warned the cryptocurrency community about phishing websites masquerading as the popular Imtoken wallet. Wu revealed that the top ad for Imtoken on Chinese Google search is, in fact, a phishing website that uses Google Docs to commit fraud. Wu pointed out that fake wallets are flooding search engines and forming an industrial chain, posing a threat to unsuspecting users. Wu urged users to be extra careful when accessing and using crypto wallets.

Additionally, criticisms of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are mounting as the agency remains unrelenting in its war on crypto. On April 21, Web3 venture capital firm Paradigm published a policy piece on the problems with SEC registration. The policy piece highlighted that the current regulatory framework is creating uncertainty and a lack of clarity for the crypto industry, stifling innovation and growth. Paradigm called for a more nuanced approach to regulation that balances investor protection with fostering innovation in the crypto space.

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential for users and influencers alike to remain vigilant and aware of potential risks and threats. From court cases and regulatory hurdles to cybersecurity concerns, the industry faces a range of challenges that must be addressed. Nonetheless, the industry remains optimistic about the potential of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency to revolutionize various industries and offer new opportunities for growth and innovation.