Share this article
SEC Alleges Day Trader Used Bitcoin to Hide Fraud Profits
The SEC is suing a Philadelphia day trader for alleged fraud, claiming the individual used bitcoin to hide the profits they generated.
By Nikhilesh De
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 7:06 a.m. Published Oct 31, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is suing a Philadelphia day trader for alleged fraud, claiming they used bitcoin to hide their profits.
On Oct. 30, the SEC filed suit against Joseph Willner, accusing him of illegally taking over more than 100 brokerage accounts and using the victims' funds to artificially inflate stock prices that he would then trade against advantageously.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
In order to hide the profits of those activities, the SEC said, Willner used an unnamed bitcoin exchange to convert the funds from U.S. dollars to bitcoin. Those proceeds were then transferred to another individual, who was not named in the lawsuit.
The agency said in a release:
"To mask his payments to the other individual as part of a profit-sharing arrangement, Willner allegedly transferred proceeds of profitable trades to a digital currency company that converts U.S. dollars to Bitcoin and then transmitted the bitcoins as payment."
According to the complaint, the two made at least $700,000 in profits through the alleged account take-over scheme. The SEC added that its investigation is still ongoing.
The case was investigated through the SEC's Cyber Unit, which was unveiled in September and is aimed in part at crimes involving cryptocurrencies.
"Account takeovers are an increasingly significant threat to retail investors, and it is exactly the type of fraud our new Cyber Unit is focusing on," Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said in a statement.
Gavel image via Shutterstock
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven' versus gold
Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash.
What to know:
- During recent geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin lost 6.6% of its value, while gold rose 8.6%, demonstrating bitcoin's vulnerability in times of market stress.
- Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash, contrary to its reputation as a stable digital asset.
- Gold remains the preferred hedge for short-term risks, while bitcoin is better suited for long-term monetary and geopolitical uncertainties that unfold over years.
Top Stories
