The Washington State financial regulator has issued a warning about potential cryptocurrency fraud involving a mining platform and wallet. A Washington investor was scammed out of over $750,000 after investing. Despite the investment supposedly growing to $1.4 million, the investor faced continuous demands for taxes and fees.
Washington Investor Scammed Over $750,000 in Crypto Mining Fraud
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) announced on Monday that it has received a complaint regarding a possible fraudulent cryptocurrency mining platform and wallet. The DFI has warned consumers to be cautious and investigate any financial solicitations.
The complaint involves a Washington investor who met someone named “Frank” online and invested over $300,000 into a platform called “Halo” to mine stablecoin tether (USDT). After the investment supposedly grew to $1.4 million, the investor was asked to pay additional taxes and fees to withdraw funds. He added over $65,000 upfront for “withheld taxes” and another $50,000 in taxes through a “Bitkeep” wallet, which changed names multiple times.
When withdrawal issues persisted, Frank charged two ETH for fund recovery, leading to the investor losing over $750,000 in total. The DFI detailed:
The investor liquidated his 401(k) retirement account, borrowed from family, and maxed out his credit cards.
The DFI stated it has not yet verified these allegations or the legitimacy of the platforms and wallets involved. They caution consumers against responding to unsolicited financial offers and stress the importance of checking the licensing status of investment professionals through FINRA Brokercheck or state regulators. Filing a complaint with DFI Securities Division is encouraged for those who believe they’ve been scammed. The regulator stressed:
Investment professionals need to be licensed with DFI to offer investments to Washington residents. In addition, most investment products sold need to be registered with DFI.
What do you think about this crypto investment scam? Let us know in the comments section

According to Polymarket’s betting odds, there’s a 60% chance we’ll see another debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, even though no additional debates are currently scheduled beyond the one held on Sept. 10, 2024.
Bettors Place Their Bets on a Second Trump-Harris Debate
Polymarket, a blockchain-driven prediction platform, has people placing bets on whether Trump and Harris will face off again. So far, no official plans have been made for a second debate, but there’s still a possibility it could happen in October. At the moment, the Polymarket wager pool stands at $140,404, with the following rules in place:
This market will resolve to ‘Yes’ if there is a second debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris by November 4, 2024, 11:59 PM ET. Otherwise, this market will resolve to ‘No.’ The resolution source is a consensus of credible reporting.
At the moment, Polymarket gives a 60% probability for a second debate. Following the September debate, the Harris campaign showed enthusiasm for a rematch in October, with NPR reporting their positive response to the previous event. On Sept. 11, CNN correspondent Hadas Gold added to the conversation by stating: “Trump says just now he’d do an NBC debate and he’d do a Fox debate.”
With no formal plans in place, the odds on Polymarket reflect a continued public interest in a potential second debate between Trump and Harris. While speculation remains, the outcome depends on the campaigns’ decisions and scheduling. As of Sept. 12, 2024, Polymarket bettors are leaning slightly in favor of Harris, giving her a 50% chance of victory, while Trump holds a close 49%.
What do you think about the chance of a second debate between Harris and Trump? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.