The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Bit Mining Ltd., a cryptocurrency mining company, with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a bribery scheme aimed at influencing Japanese officials, including members of the Japanese Parliament. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has also indicted the former CEO of Bit Mining Ltd. for his role in the bribery scheme. Bit Mining has agreed to pay a $10 million fine to settle the charges brought by both the SEC and DOJ, which included a $4 million penalty. The bribery scheme involved $2.5 million in illicit payments made to Japanese officials between 2017 and 2019 to secure licensing for an integrated resort casino. The SEC and DOJ's actions highlight the ongoing scrutiny and regulatory challenges faced by cryptocurrency firms. Following the announcement, Bit Mining's stock fell 6.3%.