Bitcoin Daily: EU Regulators Probe Binance Over Stock Tokens; Turkish Authorities Investigate Crypto Exchange Thodex For Possible $2 Billion Fraud

European regulators are looking into whether Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, has been following securities rules since it launched trading in stock tokens, the Financial Times (FT) reported.

Binance, in a new initiative this week, said it is letting users outside the U.S., China and Turkey “trade equity shares through crypto coins,” with tokens that “represent a share in a stock corporation,” which FT reported represents a vast foray by a leading digital currency venue into a new market.

Regulators want to determine whether the tokens comply with rules governing transparency and corporate disclosures, according to FT.

In other news, Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cryptocurrency exchange Thodex over allegations of potential defrauding of around 390,000 investors out of an estimated $2 billion, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Thodex owner Faruk Fatih Ozer has deactivated his social media accounts and fled Turkey for Tirana, Albania, according to reports from Turkish broadcaster Haberturk, per the AP. Ozer faces potential charges of fraud and forming a criminal organization.

Haberturk also reported that a police cybercrimes unit had searched Thodex’s offices in Istanbul, and the country’s financial crimes investigation unit had begun blocking the company’s funds, according to the AP.

Lastly, Esports Technologies, which works on advanced eSports wagering and tech, has announced that Gogawi.com, its international consumer platform, is accepting over 30 cryptocurrencies as payment, according to a press release. The betting site is available in over 140 jurisdictions worldwide.

The arrangement Gogawi has with CoinDirect allows for cryptocurrency deposits, the release stated. Bettors will be able to use numerous cryptos, including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, USDT, Ripple, USDC, Bitcoin Case, Litecoin, EOS and others.

Esports Technologies CEO Aaron Speach, CEO said in the release that the partnership “brings together two of the fastest-growing markets — cryptocurrency and eSports — making Gogawi a versatile and easy site to use.”