well, the case is a bit different

MtGox got robbed and closed because they had no more assets.

btc-e assets still should be there. So far they have not yet been seized. Not sure, how much company and how much client assets there should be.
This will become clearer soon.

It is not unlikely, that they will only allow AML compliant users to withdraw their assets.

well, in case they manage to pay the $110 Mio fine, comply with AML/KYC in future and build trust with the remaining AML compliant users...


see the official FinCEN accusations:

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-fines-btc-e-virtual-currency-exchange-110-million-facilitating-ransomware

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), working in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, assessed a $110,003,314 civil money penalty today against BTC-e a/k/a Canton Business Corporation (BTC-e) for willfully violating U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) laws.  Russian national Alexander Vinnik, one of the operators of BTC-e, was arrested in Greece this week, and FinCEN assessed a $12 million penalty against him for his role in the violations.

Full PDF
https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement_action/2017-07-26/Assessment%20for%20BTCeVinnik%20FINAL%20SignDate%2007.26.17.pdf

and here come the official FinCEN accusations:

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-fines-btc-e-virtual-currency-exchange-110-million-facilitating-ransomware

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), working in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, assessed a $110,003,314 civil money penalty today against BTC-e a/k/a Canton Business Corporation (BTC-e) for willfully violating U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) laws.  Russian national Alexander Vinnik, one of the operators of BTC-e, was arrested in Greece this week, and FinCEN assessed a $12 million penalty against him for his role in the violations.

Full PDF
https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement_action/2017-07-26/Assessment%20for%20BTCeVinnik%20FINAL%20SignDate%2007.26.17.pdf

@cryptodevil: surely a likely course of action.

either way: some black sheeps less in the business

see this post that explains the role of Alexander Vinnik and btc-e to some extend

http://blog.wizsec.jp/2017/07/breaking-open-mtgox-1.html?m=1

• After the coins (...stolen from Mt Gox) entered Vinnik's wallets, most were moved to BTC-e and presumably sold off or laundered (BTC-e money codes were a popular choice). In total some 300,000 BTC ended up on BTC-e, while other coins were deposited to other exchanges, including MtGox itself.
• Some of the funds moved to BTC-e seem to have moved straight to internal storage rather than customer deposit addresses, hinting at a relationship between Vinnik and BTC-e.
  The stolen MtGox coins were not the only stolen coins handled by Vinnik; coins stolen from Bitcoinica, Bitfloor and several other thefts from back in 2011 and 2012 were all laundered through the same wallets.

so there are still chances that btc-e comes back if they comply. Hopefully with more respect for users like steven and me.

see the parallel discussion in this thread

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1739698.200

they really have standard procedures to keep people waiting and lazy:

1. get asked by btc-e to provide transaction history
2. get asked to create and verify account with xbtce
3. xbtce asks for ID and proof of address
4. xbtce asks for notary certified ID and proof of address as well as income statement from my employer as "proof of income"
5. ask to send all the notary certified documents to a shady address in Malaysia
6. if you even sent that they ask to send also notary certified bank documents with the original transactions to that address

Not sure if anyone already got to "level 7" and how many levels they think of.

...not funny...

sooner or later they will get what they deserve.

well, if Alexander Vinnik really is a key btc-e operator and most assets have been seized, there are chances that lawful and verified asset owners are being reimbursed, because those assets were not assets of the site. However, its going to be a lengthy process with a lot of administrative procedures...

The name of the arrested is Alexander Vinnik

Unfortunately, an exit scam is what I smell as well.

They would have so many means to verify an identity and to comply with AML / KYC. But thanks to Steven009 at least we know now what will be delay tactics nr. 6...

If those guys will try to run, that should be really hard to do for an entire life.

Soft-FX has programmed their software and Mayzus Financial Services has been their financial broker. As soon as those two companies will get scrutinized after a prosecution of this scam the identities will be revealed. Will not be funny for them once they get extradicted to the US...

my story:

I didn't access my btc-e account as well for over one year.

1. got asked by btc-e to provide transaction history - provided
2. got asked to create and verify my account with xbtce - account created, verification attempted
3. xbtce asks me for ID and proof of address - provided via upload
4. xbtce asks me for notary certified ID and proof of address as well as income statement from my employer as "proof of income" - provided
5. now after more than 10 days waiting after the last upload they ask me to send all the notary certified documents to a shady address in Malaysia:

"To complete verification of your account please send notarized copies by post to address
27.03, 27th floor, Menara TA One # 22 Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
postal/zip code 50250
Contact person: Amnah Othman
+603 21 637777
fax + 603 21 633878"

so, I am fed up now after several months back and forth. I have offered them to contact me and to use other ways to 100% verify my identity. If any at all I get standard responses and long wait times before the next "idea" they come up with to keep me waiting to access my funds.

Anyone who already started legal or other significant actions besides filing the UK internet fraud form please pm me, so we can coordinate