Crypto.com — Corporate Accountability Profile
Entity Type: Privately held cryptocurrency exchange and financial-services group Sector: Cryptocurrency / payments Listing: Private Operating entities: Foris DAX, Inc. (US); Foris DAX MT Limited (Malta); Foris GFS Australia Pty Ltd; affiliated entities globally
Overview
Crypto.com (Foris DAX) is one of the world’s largest centralized cryptocurrency exchanges by user count. It was a primary sponsor of UFC Freedom 250 with documented $1M Cronos digital-currency bonus pool to top fighters of the evening, plus Octagon-side and broadcast branding. Crypto.com was a documented donor to Trump’s 2025 inauguration committee and has been a vocal participant in the crypto industry’s federal regulatory engagement during the second Trump term.
Basis for Inclusion
Subject Classification: Privately held company.
Basis for inclusion:
- DOCUMENTED: Primary sponsorship and $1M Cronos bonus pool announced for UFC Freedom 250 (IBTimes UK; Ink.l).
- DOCUMENTED: Trump 2025 Inauguration Committee donation (FEC inauguration committee disclosures).
- DOCUMENTED: SEC investigation initiated in 2024; SEC subsequently dropped the case in 2025 under the Trump-administration SEC.
- DOCUMENTED: Reverse-Wells lawsuit filed by Crypto.com against the SEC in October 2024.
- CREDIBLY REPORTED: Trump Media & Technology Group reported ETF partnership discussions involving Crypto.com.
What is NOT the basis for inclusion:
- Lawful crypto trading by end users.
- General competitive market positioning.
UFC Freedom 250 — White House Event (June 14, 2026)
See: UFC Freedom 250 — White House Event.
DOCUMENTED: Primary sponsor; $1M Cronos bonus pool to top fighters; in-Octagon and perimeter branding. No public disavowal of the Hokit “Michelle Obama is a man” remark as of June 16, 2026.
Leadership and Controlling Holders
| # | Name | Role | Anchor classification | Profile (to draft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kris Marszalek | Co-founder & CEO | [E] + [D] | kris-marszalek-board-member-profile |
| 2 | Bobby Bao | Co-founder | [E] | bobby-bao-board-member-profile |
| 3 | Rafael Melo | Co-founder | [E] | rafael-melo-board-member-profile |
| 4 | Gary Or | Co-founder | [E] | gary-or-board-member-profile |
| 5 | Eric Anziani | President & COO | [E] | eric-anziani-board-member-profile |
Verification needed: Crypto.com / Foris DAX, Inc. full board roster not publicly disclosed at the depth available for US public companies. Co-founder list above reflects publicly stated company history; corporate director positions require state-corporate-filing verification (Cayman Islands, Singapore, Malta, Delaware).
Individual director profiles deferred — see _drafts/UFC-FREEDOM-250-PROGRESS.md.
Regulatory History (selected)
- 2023: SEC Wells notice / investigation reported.
- October 2024: Crypto.com / Foris DAX, Inc. filed lawsuit against the SEC challenging Wells notice.
- 2025: SEC under new Trump-administration leadership dropped the investigation.
- 2025 inauguration: Donation to Trump inauguration committee.
Investigative trail pointers (public records)
Education only — verify independently. Absence of hits is not proof.
| Channel | Starting points |
|---|---|
| Federal courts | CourtListener / PACER party and attorney searches (spelling variants) |
| Campaign finance | FEC + OpenSecrets for committees and donors tied to documented roles |
| Corporate / LLC | State secretary of state; OpenCorporates for cross-border shells from reporting |
| Sanctions / PEP | OpenSanctions when international business context is already sourced |
| Contracts / grants | USAspending.gov for named entities from investigations |
Use public-records-research-specialist, corporate-intelligence-investigator, and public-corruption-ombudsman evidence tiers.
Sources
- IBTimes UK, “UFC Freedom 250 Sponsors Revealed,” 2026.
- Ink.l, sponsor reporting.
- FEC, 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee receipts (2025).
- SEC press releases (2024–2025 case status).
- Foris DAX, Inc. v. SEC, complaint filed October 2024.
- UFC Freedom 250 — White House Event
Factual correction requests: factcheck@patriot.university.