Today in Crypto: The SEC has dismissed its civil action against Gemini with prejudice, French authorities are investigating a data breach at a crypto tax platform, Waltio, while Binance has applied for a MiCA license in Greece as part of a renewed European Union compliance push.
SEC drops civil action against Gemini with prejudice
The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s civil lawsuit against Gemini Trust Company and Genesis Global Capital in the Earn-related unregistered securities case has been dismissed with prejudice.
Court filings show the parties submitted a joint stipulation to dismiss the action on Friday in the US District Court in the Southern District of New York, effectively ending the SEC’s claim over Gemini’s crypto lending program with Genesis.
A federal judge still needs to sign off on the joint stipulation to dismiss.
The dismissal comes about nine months after the SEC paused the civil action in April 2024 when then-acting chairman Mark Uyeda was leading the agency.
The SEC was content with the dismissal based on a 100% in-kind return of Gemini Earn investors’ crypto assets through the Genesis bankruptcy case in mid-2024 and Gemini agreeing to contribute up to $40 million to help fund the full return of those crypto assets.
It also noted that Genesis already settled with the SEC by agreeing to pay a $21 million fine.
The SEC brought the case against the Winklevoss-led Gemini and Genesis in January 2023, during the Biden administration, when crypto-related lawsuits and investigations surged as part of a broader regulatory crackdown on the industry.
French authorities investigate data breach of crypto tax platform
Authorities in France have started a preliminary investigation into a breach of cryptocurrency tax platform Waltio that could have compromised users’ personal data.
According to a Thursday notice by French cybersecurity authorities, the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office and the country’s National Cyber Unit were investigating the nature of the stolen data and identities of Waltio users. The notice warned that users affected by the breach could be targeted in an attempt to move their digital assets under the guise of legitimate security concerns.
According to a Friday report from Le Parisien, a group of hackers called the Shiny Hunters sent a ransom demand to Waltio following the attack. The hackers obtained personal data from about 50,000 Waltio users, the majority of whom were based in France.
Many criminals have targeted crypto users globally in person after obtaining personal data regarding their holdings, names and addresses. The notice warned that such users in France could be the victims of “kidnappings and unlawful detentions,” or have close relatives put at risk to extort them out of their crypto holdings.
The targeting of crypto users or their relatives has become known colloquially as a “wrench attack,” in which a criminal kidnaps or holds someone hostage, sometimes using violence to force them to transfer their digital assets. Some users in France have been the victims of such attacks, and there are similar reports from several countries.
Binance applies for Europe MiCA license in Greece
Binance submitted an application for authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in Greece as regulators warn of looming compliance deadlines.
A Binance spokesperson confirmed to Cointelegraph on Friday that the exchange had filed for a MiCA license in Greece and was working with the country’s financial regulator, the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC).
“We welcome the opportunity to work closely with the HCMC as this new regulation takes shape in the EU and look forward to contributing to the long-term growth of the EU’s digital financial ecosystem,” the exchange’s representative said.
The news follows France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) warning on Jan. 13 that Binance was among 90 crypto companies it had registered, but which remain unlicensed under MiCA.
The regulator said it notified the companies in late 2025 that France’s MiCA transition period ends on June 30, forcing non-compliant firms to cease operations in July.
Founded in 2017, Binance is the world’s largest centralized exchange (CEX) by trading turnover, averaging $11.9 billion in reported daily volume, according to CoinGecko.
“We see MiCA as a positive and important milestone for the industry — one that brings greater regulatory clarity, stronger user protections, and a clear framework for responsible innovation,” Binance’s spokesperson said.
