California Financial Department issues a $500,000 fine to Nexo; crypto lending compliance regulation continues to intensify

2026-01-16 05:28:23

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【BlockBeats】The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation recently announced a $500,000 fine against the crypto asset management platform Nexo. The violation was clear: the company provided crypto asset-backed loan services to at least 5,456 California residents without obtaining a state license.

According to the investigation details, Nexo’s subsidiary, Nexo Capital Inc. (registered in the Cayman Islands), had been issuing loans to consumers and businesses without a license from July 2018 to November 2022. More seriously, before lending, they did not assess the borrower’s repayment ability, existing debts, or credit history, which clearly violates California’s financial regulations.

KC Mohseni, Director of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, stated plainly: “Lending institutions must comply with the law and cannot issue high-risk loans that may harm consumers, even for crypto-backed loans, which must be treated equally.” In addition to the fine, Nexo is required to transfer all funds of California users to a licensed US affiliated entity within 150 days.

The timing of this penalty is interesting. Nexo recently expressed interest in re-entering the US market, but as early as 2022, the company chose to exit under pressure from state and federal regulators. Earlier, in 2023, Nexo reached a total settlement of $45 million with the SEC and multiple state regulators over unregistered crypto lending and yield products.

From this case, it’s clear that US regulators are still strict on compliance requirements for crypto lending businesses, especially in protecting consumers and reviewing lending qualifications. Nexo has not publicly responded to this penalty yet.

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LayerHopper

· 5h ago

Really, regulations are getting stricter year by year… Nexo has finally fallen into a trap this time. This is the price of unregulated lending—daring to operate without proper licenses, serves you right. $500,000 is neither too much nor too little; but it’s a strong warning to the industry. Compliance costs are becoming increasingly high—how can small platforms survive? Lending has always been a regulatory focus; no one can escape it.

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BlockchainTherapist

· 5h ago

The compliance pitfalls are getting deeper, and Nexo has definitely hit a snag with this wave. Nexo got fined again? This is the consequence of not following the rules. A fine of $500,000... consider it a warning; stricter measures will follow. The US is really cracking down on unlicensed lending; it was long overdue. Lending is indeed prone to risks, and the compliance costs are being passed on to users. Regulations are tightening more and more; who dares to operate without a license? Actually, this is good for the long-term development of the industry, despite the short-term pain. Nexo expanded too aggressively before; now it's time to learn a lesson. Lending platforms really need to be honest; don’t operate without a license. This alone isn't a big deal, but the worry is that more fines could come in a cascade later on.

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MidnightSeller

· 5h ago

The regulatory iron fist is coming again. Nexo got into quite a mess this time. But to be honest, lending without a license is indeed a bit outrageous.

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NeverVoteOnDAO

· 5h ago

Tsk, Nexo has failed again, and $500,000 is gone just like that. Compliance is really the kryptonite of the crypto world. That's how it is in the US, everyone has to follow the rules, no exceptions. Poor due diligence in lending and borrowing—aren't they asking for it? It seems the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is taking quite a tough stance this time, and more platforms are probably going to suffer later. But on the other hand, this can also be seen as a form of protection for users, at least as a deterrent. The fines for Nexo will definitely be passed on to users—who's really losing out? Compliance costs are getting higher and higher; how can small platforms survive? This is why I've always said that the path of decentralized lending still needs to be explored.

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TokenomicsShaman

· 5h ago

The compliance routine is back again, Nexo's downfall this time is well-deserved. --- A $500,000 USD attempt to pass? America's appetite is getting bigger. --- Daring to lend without a license, isn't this asking for a beating? --- Lending platforms don't even do credit assessments, this operation is really bold. --- California is setting the tone, all subsequent platforms must be more honest. --- When did Nexo become so careless? Weren't they quite compliant before? --- Lending without checking credit reports? Who will bear this risk? --- Just wait, this wave of fines is only the beginning.

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