The Dutch prosecution has applied for the bankruptcy of the encrypted platform Knaken and has seized its assets to conduct a criminal investigation

According to the official report, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) has applied to the Rotterdam court to declare the cryptocurrency trading platform Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. and its subsidiary Stichting Knaken Payments bankrupt.

OM stated that the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) had previously warned that the platform was illegally providing exchange and custody services for crypto assets without the necessary licenses. Although the platform claims to have ceased operations and is undergoing liquidation, it has currently completely stopped making payments to customers. OM is concerned that its liquidation process lacks order and may harm investors' interests, thus applying for bankruptcy, aiming to appoint a liquidator to take over and safeguard creditors' funds.

In addition, based on the report from AFM, the Dutch Financial Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) has launched a parallel investigation into the alleged criminal activities of the platform. Law enforcement executed multiple searches on June 29, seizing relevant digital storage devices and freezing some of the company's assets, with no arrests made so far.