An Australian federal court has issued a significant ruling requiring the financial services company BPS Financial to pay a fine of AUD 14 million for serious regulatory violations. According to PANews, this verdict marks a strong enforcement action by regulators against non-compliant financial activities.
Qoin Wallet and Major Violations
BPS Financial faced two main penalties related to its Qoin Wallet product. Approximately AUD 1.3 million was fined for providing financial services without a valid license from January 2020 to mid-2023. Additionally, another AUD 8 million was imposed for making misleading and deceptive statements regarding the product, causing serious confusion among consumers.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) — the official regulatory authority — accused BPS of issuing investment products and providing financial advice without the necessary approval under the Corporations Act.
Serious Misrepresentations and Poor Compliance Management
In its ruling, the court pointed out that senior executives at BPS were involved in these violations, and the company’s compliance control system was inadequate. The court determined that these misleading statements, combined with unlicensed operations, constitute “serious and unlawful conduct” under Australian law.
Decade-Long Operational Restrictions
In addition to monetary penalties, the court banned BPS Financial from providing unlicensed financial services for the next ten years. BPS is also required to publish notices on the Qoin Wallet app and website as directed by the court to inform users of these violations. The company must also bear most of the legal costs incurred by ASIC during the investigation and litigation.
This case underscores the importance of adhering to financial regulations and avoiding misleading claims that could harm investors.
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BPS Financial Fined 14 Million AUD for Misleading Statements About Qoin Wallet
An Australian federal court has issued a significant ruling requiring the financial services company BPS Financial to pay a fine of AUD 14 million for serious regulatory violations. According to PANews, this verdict marks a strong enforcement action by regulators against non-compliant financial activities.
Qoin Wallet and Major Violations
BPS Financial faced two main penalties related to its Qoin Wallet product. Approximately AUD 1.3 million was fined for providing financial services without a valid license from January 2020 to mid-2023. Additionally, another AUD 8 million was imposed for making misleading and deceptive statements regarding the product, causing serious confusion among consumers.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) — the official regulatory authority — accused BPS of issuing investment products and providing financial advice without the necessary approval under the Corporations Act.
Serious Misrepresentations and Poor Compliance Management
In its ruling, the court pointed out that senior executives at BPS were involved in these violations, and the company’s compliance control system was inadequate. The court determined that these misleading statements, combined with unlicensed operations, constitute “serious and unlawful conduct” under Australian law.
Decade-Long Operational Restrictions
In addition to monetary penalties, the court banned BPS Financial from providing unlicensed financial services for the next ten years. BPS is also required to publish notices on the Qoin Wallet app and website as directed by the court to inform users of these violations. The company must also bear most of the legal costs incurred by ASIC during the investigation and litigation.
This case underscores the importance of adhering to financial regulations and avoiding misleading claims that could harm investors.