Alex Mashinsky, co-founder and former CEO of the defunct crypto lending platform Celsius, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, 2025, following his guilty plea to two federal criminal charges late last year.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed the updated sentencing date in a court filing this week.
In December 2024, Mashinsky pleaded guilty to commodities fraud and price manipulation tied to Celsius’s native token, CEL. These charges stem from a broader case accusing the former executive of orchestrating misleading strategies to inflate the token’s value and mislead investors.
The plea deal carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, making this one of the most significant legal proceedings in the crypto industry to date.
Federal prosecutors originally indicted Mashinsky in July 2023 on several charges, including securities fraud, wire fraud, and market manipulation. The Department of Justice claimed he promoted Celsius as a safe investment while allegedly engaging in risky trading practices and deceptive marketing campaigns.
Mashinsky was initially due to be sentenced on April 8, but his defense team requested additional time to present further evidence and arguments in court. The judge approved the delay, giving attorneys an extra month to prepare.
This upcoming decision could set a major precedent in crypto regulation and enforcement. If you’d like, I can put together a visual case timeline or a deeper dive into the legal specifics. Just let me know.
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