New York sues KuCoin, expands cryptocurrency crackdown

FILE PHOTO: New York State Attorney General Letitia James attends a U.S. midterm election night party for New York Governor Democratic Kathy Hochul in New York, U.S. November 8, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York's attorney general on Thursday sued KuCoin for failing to register with the state before letting investors buy and sell cryptocurrencies on its platform, as part of her effort to rein in what she calls "shadowy" cryptocurrency companies.

Attorney General Letitia James said the fourth-largest cryptocurrency platform violated the Martin Act, a powerful state securities law, by transacting in cryptocurrencies, selling the product "KuCoin Earn" to generate income for itself and investors, and wrongfully calling itself an "exchange."