The Do Kwon saga continues: ex-Terraform CEO extradited to South Korea

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in financial markets and legal matters, I find the saga of Do Kwon to be an intriguing study in the intersection of technology, finance, and law. From my perspective, this is not just a story about a cryptocurrency collapse or a fraud case, but a tale that underscores the complexities of global governance, extradition laws, and the evolving landscape of digital assets.


In simple terms, on August 1st, the Appellate Court in Montenegro confirmed an earlier ruling to send Terence Kwon back to South Korea. This decision rejected the U.S.’s request for his extradition, apparently marking the final decision in this matter.

As a research analyst, I’m shedding light on the recent developments concerning an individual named Kwon, who hails from South Korea. He stands accused of being involved in a staggering $40 billion cryptocurrency fraud case, directly linked to the downfall of Terra cryptocurrencies.

Timeline of Do Kwon’s arrest

In the month of March, 2023, he was apprehended in Montenegro as he attempted to journey using fake identification papers. Imprisoned for a term of four months, numerous petitions for his extradition were made by both the United States and South Korea during this period.

In a series of decisions regarding his extradition, Montenegrin courts initially leaned towards the United States. But this decision was subsequently reversed, shifting in favor of South Korea as they had made an earlier request and were dealing with substantial accusations against Kwon, such as fraud and bribery.

By early March 2024, South Korean authorities had given their approval for the transfer of the co-founder of Terraform Labs to Montenegro.

Kwon’s legal troubles go beyond just extradition disputes. In April 2024, a New York court ruled that he and his company, Terraform Labs, were responsible for civil fraud and ordered them to pay a $4.5 billion settlement to the SEC. Even after this settlement, U.S. officials are still pursuing criminal charges against him.

While Kwon is being prepared for transfer to a facility for foreigners close to Podgorica, we’ll see if any more appeals or decisions arise in the future.

RadioFreeEurope reporting helped with this news. 

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2024-08-03 01:53