South Korea seeks to freeze bitcoin linked to UST, luna founder

South Korean authorities sought Kwon’s arrest this month and claimed he’s on the run. The prosecutors mentioned that Interpol, the worldwide policing group, has issued a “Purple Discover” for Kwon. Such notices are issued for fugitives needed both for prosecution or to serve a sentence.

Kwon, nevertheless, insists he’s not on the run and mentioned Tuesday on Twitter that he’s “making zero effort to cover.” The crypto founder claims he goes on walks and is in his front room coding.

The Seoul Southern District prosecutors workplace declined to touch upon how they recognized that the bitcoin is linked to Kwon.

However analysis from analytics platform CryptoQuant means that the Luna Basis Guard (LFG) arrange a digital pockets on Sept. 15 and despatched 3,310 bitcoin to KuCoin and OKX. The Luna Basis Guard is a non-profit aimed toward selling the blockchain Terra, created by Kwon’s firm Terraform Labs.

The LFG responded on Tuesday saying it had not created any new wallets, or moved bitcoin or different digital currencies round since Might 2022. It additionally posted its pockets tackle on Twitter.

However CryptoQuant replied: “That is the general public one,” suggesting the Luna Basis Guard has one other pockets tackle not explicitly linked to the nonprofit.

Kwon additionally refuted the claims of bitcoin being moved.

He mentioned on Twitter that there was no try and “cashout” and that he isn’t used KuCoin or OKX in “no less than the final 12 months.” He added that no funds of Terraform Labs, LFG or different entites have been frozen.

KuCoin advised CNBC on Wednesday that it’s “prepared to cooperate with any world regulation enforcement companies on the subject of instances of investigations pertaining to the origin and freezing of suspected belongings.”

It added that in relation to Kwon and the request by South Korean prosecutors to freeze funds linked to the crypto founder, “we wish you to first tackle the difficulty to any associated authorities and make clear their stance concerning the matter.”

CNBC advised KuCoin it had already spoken to authorities. A KuCoin spokesperson mentioned the corporate “cannot disclose any particulars so as to not intrude with the case.”

OKX has not but responded to a request for remark.