Breaking: South Korean Prosecutors Starts New Investigation Into Terra (LUNA)

Varinder Singh
September 13, 2022
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South Korean prosecutors’ team has started a new investigation and review on Terra tokens to categorize them under securities. TerraForm Labs, its founder Do Kwon, and other affiliates will also be charged with violating the Capital Market Act if Terra tokens LUNA, LUNC, and UST (now USTC) are found to be securities.

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Prosecutors Investigate Whether Terra Comes Under Securities

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office’s Financial and Securities Crime Joint Investigation Team met with experts from crypto exchanges and financial regulators including Financial Supervisory Service to determine if Terra tokens are securities, reported the Korea Herald on September 13.

The move will also accuse TerraForm Labs, Do Kwon, and other affiliates of violating the Capital Markets Act. Currently, Terra and its executives are under scrutiny for fraud and tax evasion allegations.

The prosecutors investigating the collapse of LUNA (now LUNC) and UST (now USTC), may charge the defendants with Capital Markets Act violations irrespective of the financial authorities’ judgment. Moreover, the prosecutors’ decision would also help lawmakers in the upcoming crypto regulation.

Financial regulators are working to categorize cryptocurrencies into securities and non-securities. However, some experts believe crypto are securities as they can be issued like stocks, while others consider crypto as a commodity due to their decentralized properties.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also investigating LUNA developer Terraform Labs. Terra’s decentralized finance platform Mirror Protocol is under investigation for selling mirrored assets of US stocks in UST.

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LUNA and LUNC Skyrockets Amid Community Support

While South Korean authorities investigate fraud and other allegations against Terra, LUNC and LUNA tokens jumped over 200% last week. Both tokens saw over $3.5 billion daily trading volume.

Terra Classic (LUNC) price made a high of $0.00058. Currently, it is trading at $0.00037, down nearly 2% in the last 24 hours. The rally comes amid support for the 1.2% tax burn and staking of LUNC tokens.

Meanwhile, Terra (LUNA) price jumped to a high of $7.06. At the time of writing, the price has plummeted to $4.52.

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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Varinder has over 10 years of experience and is known as a seasoned leader for his involvement in the fintech sector. With over 5 years dedicated to blockchain, crypto, and Web3 developments, he has experienced two Bitcoin halving events making him key opinion leader in the space. At CoinGape Media, Varinder leads the editorial decisions, spearheading the news team to cover latest updates, markets trends and developments within the crypto industry. The company was recognized as Best Crypto Media Company 2024 for high impact and quality reporting. Being a Master of Technology degree holder, analytics thinker, technology enthusiast, Varinder has shared his knowledge of disruptive technologies in over 5000+ news, articles, and papers.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.