In a significant legal development, a federal judge has denied Crypto.com’s request for an injunction that would have allowed the company to continue offering sports event contracts in Nevada. This ruling marks a setback for the cryptocurrency platform, which had sought to block a cease-and-desist order from the Nevada Gaming Control Board issued in May.
Crypto.com initiated the legal proceedings earlier this year, filing a lawsuit against the state in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. The company had requested the injunction in June, seeking to maintain its operations while contesting the state’s order.
The judge’s decision contrasts sharply with a previous ruling in April, when a similar injunction was granted to Kalshi, a competing platform that operates in the same space. The disparity in outcomes between the two cases has raised eyebrows and highlighted the complexities of regulatory frameworks that govern the rapidly evolving landscape of online betting and cryptocurrency in the United States.
As a result of this ruling, Crypto.com will be unable to offer its sports event contracts in Nevada until the legal issues surrounding its operations are resolved. The decision reflects ongoing tensions between emerging financial technologies and established regulatory bodies as they grapple with the implications of cryptocurrency and digital betting platforms on traditional gaming industries.