Indian crypto alternate WazirX faces mounting challenges after the Delhi Excessive Courtroom ordered a contemporary investigation into the platform on Dec. 18 — the identical day Binance introduced it could delist the alternate’s native token WRX.
The probe, spurred by allegations of a previous hack and issues over monetary irregularities, indicators intensifying scrutiny on the beleaguered alternate.
The court docket’s directive got here after Advocate Jaivir Bains filed a petition calling for felony proceedings towards WazirX in reference to a July 2024 breach that resulted in a lack of $235 million in crypto.
Preliminary experiences from Delhi police concluded that no felony case might be substantiated, however Justice Sanjeev Narula rejected the findings and required an up to date standing report by February 2025.
The investigation highlights lingering doubts about WazirX’s operational integrity, notably in mild of allegations {that a} North Korean hacking group orchestrated the breach. Regardless of a partial restoration effort led by cybersecurity agency Cyfirma, the alternate admitted that 43% of buyer funds stay unrecoverable.
Binance delisting
The authorized improvement comes as Binance introduced it could delist WRX, citing a failure to satisfy compliance requirements.
The delisting, efficient Dec. 25, triggered a 59% drop in WRX’s worth, reflecting eroded investor confidence. Binance has additionally denied possession of WazirX, alleging the alternate is managed by Zanmai Labs, which operates beneath the jurisdiction of India’s Monetary Intelligence Unit.
Whereas WazirX makes an attempt to regain stability, together with plans to relaunch its platform and introduce a decentralized alternate, critics have highlighted deficiencies in its disaster administration and transparency. “The court docket’s transfer to demand a contemporary probe displays the severity of the allegations and raises questions on the way forward for WazirX,” stated a authorized analyst conversant in the case.
WazirX has pledged to rebuild with enhanced providers, however the mixture of regulatory scrutiny, monetary losses, and market instability poses a formidable problem for the once-prominent alternate.