A Massachusetts federal court has levied a substantial penalty of nearly $25.8 million against My Big Coin Pay, Inc., and its associated entities, alongside individuals Mark Gillespie and John Roche. The penalties stem from the founders’ involvement in a long-running digital asset fraud scheme involving the fraudulent sale of My Big Coin (MBC). The court’s decision included a $19.3 million civil monetary penalty and an additional $6.4 million for restitution to affected customers deceived by misleading claims about the coin’s value and backing. 2014 to 2017, defendants falsely promoted MBC as a fully functional digital currency backed by gold and actively traded on established platforms, but in reality, the currency lacked any such support or market presence. Over $6 million was collected from at least 28 customers under false pretenses before the funds were largely misappropriated by co-defendant Randall Crater, who was previously convicted and sentenced to over eight years in prison for his role in the scheme. The court’s latest order concludes the CFTC’s civil enforcement claims against Gillespie, Roche, and the two Nevada-based My Big Coin companies. It also imposes a permanent trading ban on the defendants, prohibiting them from participating in any CFTC-regulated markets or registering with the agency. Crater, the scheme’s primary orchestrator, was previously sentenced in a separate criminal case for his role in the fraud. The CFTC stressed that financial restitution may not always be possible, emphasizing their continued effort to safeguard customers and ensure accountability for wrongdoers.