HONG KONG – Cryptocurrency platform JPEX shut down some trading during an ongoing investigation by the Hong Kong police.

Users won’t be able to place new orders on its Earn Trading interface from Monday, according to a statement on Sunday, referring to some wealth management products.

JPEX is negotiating with third-party market makers to resolve a liquidity shortage, the statement said.   

Hong Kong police are investigating JPEX after a referral from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the markets regulator.

The SFC has said the firm was operating in the city as an unlicensed entity, the first such warning by the watchdog since the country boosted efforts to grow Hong Kong’s presence as a crypto hub by luring more individual investors. 

JPEX said market makers had frozen funds following probes by the Hong Kong authorities. Existing orders on Earn Trading will continue until the product’s maturity, it said. JPEX didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The Hong Kong police arrested influencer Joseph Lam Chok in connection with the JPEX probe and police officers were seen carrying boxes into a separate vehicle, according to local media reports and footage on HK01. 

Hong Kong actor Julian Cheung, actress Jacqueline Ch’ng and Taiwanese singer Nine Chen were previously ambassadors for JPEX, but have since distanced themselves from the trading platform.

Mr Lam said in a statement they had all promoted JPEX in a capacity similar to spokespersons or agents, but emphasised they were not platform members.

Four men and two women were arrested on Monday and are suspected of “conspiracy to defraud”, according to statement from the Hong Kong police.

Authorities have so far received 1,408 complaints on JPEX involving HK$1 billion (S$175 million). The operation is ongoing and more arrests could be made, the police added.

JPEX is headquartered in Dubai, according to its website. BLOOMBERG