In a verdict that reads more like a financial crime thriller than a regulatory ruling, Singapore’s Supreme Court has pulled the curtain back on WazirX, revealing a tangle of deception, hidden ownership, and blatant legal defiance involving not just the exchange itself but its affiliates Zettai and Zensui.
Let’s break down what happened — and why it matters far beyond WazirX users.
A “User Vote” That Was Anything But Democratic
WazirX recently held what it called a community vote — supposedly a chance for users to shape the platform’s future. But the Singapore judge saw right through it.
According to the court, key details were deliberately concealed from the users. The vote was, in the judge’s words, a staged performance meant to create a veneer of community involvement while keeping the truth buried. Had the court not intervened, thousands of users might’ve unknowingly backed decisions made under false pretenses.
This isn’t just about poor governance — it’s about calculated manipulation.
Zettai Caught Operating Without a License
The situation only got more serious when the court turned its attention to Zettai, WazirX’s operational partner.
Zettai was found to be running crypto operations in Singapore without a Digital Token Service Provider (DTSP) license — a basic legal requirement. What’s worse, their legal team openly admitted they never planned to obtain one.
That’s not an oversight. That’s willful noncompliance.
It raises a massive red flag about the kind of due diligence — or lack thereof — that went into this entire structure. Zettai didn’t just miss a regulatory step; they ignored the rulebook entirely.
The Panama Puzzle: Zensui’s Hidden Role
Dig a little deeper, and it turns out that neither WazirX nor Zettai was truly in control.
The real power behind the scenes? A Panama-based company called Zensui — a name that wasn’t even disclosed to users or regulators until this court case forced it into the open.
This kind of shadow ownership is exactly what regulators around the world are trying to crack down on. It obscures responsibility, accountability, and ultimately leaves users in the dark about who’s really handling their funds.
The judge didn’t mince words, criticizing the drawn-out proceedings as a strategic attempt to mislead and delay the truth. A full year of legal maneuvering, all to protect a fabricated story.
Ignoring Indian Regulations, Too
And if you thought the regulatory flouting was limited to Singapore — think again.
WazirX also failed to register with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), a basic requirement for any crypto exchange operating in the country. That’s two major jurisdictions where rules were not just bent but outright ignored.
What Comes Next?
WazirX says it plans to appeal. Meanwhile, it’s quietly shifting operations to Panama under the Zensui name. For users still hoping to recover lost funds from last year’s $235 million hack, that dream just got even more distant.
The bigger concern? This case exposes a blueprint that other bad actors might follow: use complex structures, hide ownership, dodge regulation, and play the long game in court. It’s a wake-up call not just for users, but for global regulators still catching up with the crypto space.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just about one exchange getting caught. It’s a spotlight on how easily trust can be exploited when transparency and regulation take a backseat.
If crypto is ever going to reach mainstream credibility, cases like this can’t be the norm. They have to be the cautionary tales that shape a safer, more honest future for the entire space.
👉 If you're a crypto user, always look beyond the surface. Who’s really in control? Are they playing by the rules? And most importantly — if things go south, will they be held accountable?
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