BitMEX’s $800k Lobbying Spree Sparks Controversy Amidst Co-Founder Pardon

Crypto exchange BitMEX has stirred controversy with a reported $800,000 lobbying expenditure in the lead-up to its co-founders’ presidential pardon. The timing of these activities raises questions about the motivations behind the expenditures and their potential impact on regulatory landscape. The report, by crypto media outlet Protos, reveals that BitMEX invested heavily in influencing policy makers just before the pardons were granted to Arthur Hayes, Samuel Reed, and Benjamin Delo by President Trump in March. This comes just as the company faced legal charges and a public image marred by controversy.