Alexander Mashinsky, the founder of the defunct crypto lender Celsius, has been officially barred from CFTC registration after previously serving time for fraud.
By Jesse Hamilton|Edited by Nikhilesh De Jun 18, 2026, 7:26 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on Alex Mashinsky, the sentenced former CEO of Celsius, has been banned from engaging in commodities activities. (CoinDesk)SummaryShow- Alexander Mashinsky, the disgraced ex-founder and CEO of Celsius, has been officially prohibited from participating in commodities activities as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission concluded its lengthy investigation.
- Mashinsky has already been sentenced to 12 years in prison due to his fraud convictions.
Alexander Mashinsky, the imprisoned former leader of Celsius, has now received a formal ban from engaging in any business with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, following the conclusion of a protracted investigation.
The CFTC did not impose any new financial penalties on Mashinsky, who had previously admitted to deceiving the public regarding the viability of his failing crypto enterprise. However, they did issue a formal prohibition on his registration and trading activities, as per a statement released on Thursday. This additional sanction complements his existing 12-year prison sentence for fraud, which included a $50,000 fine and a requirement to repay $48 million.
The CFTC's order, which “permanently restrained, enjoined and prohibited” him from any commodities activities, has been officially filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and received judicial approval on Thursday, according to court records.
The CFTC stated, "Mashinsky and Celsius orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of clients by misrepresenting the security, profitability, and regulatory adherence of Celsius’ digital asset finance platform." During the widespread downturn of the crypto market in 2022, "while continuing to assure customers that their assets were secure and generating rewards, Celsius faced catastrophic losses."
Celsius was among a number of notable firms that collapsed in close succession during this tumultuous period.
Read More: Celsius Founder Alex Mashinsky Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Fraud
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CEX Volumes Drop to Lowest Since September 2024 as RWA Perps Hit Record High
CEX Volumes Drop to Lowest Since September 2024 as RWA Perps Hit Record High
In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
By CoinDesk ResearchJun 15, 2026In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
Why it matters:
In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
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