Blockchain Terminal (BCT)
A 2017–2018 ICO (BCT tokens, ~$30M) for a 'Blockchain Terminal' — a Bloomberg-style crypto trading terminal. The SEC and DOJ said convicted ex-hedge-funder Boaz Manor secretly ran it under a fake identity ('Shaun MacDonald'), using associate Edith Pardo as a front, and lied about the product's adoption.
Also known as: Blockchain Terminal, BCT, CG Blockchain, ComplianceGuard
Summary
Blockchain Terminal (via companies CG Blockchain and BCT Inc.) raised over $30 million from hundreds of investors in a 2017–2018 ICO of BCT tokens, pitched as funding a "Blockchain Terminal" (a Bloomberg-terminal-style device for crypto) and a hedge-fund compliance/audit tool ("ComplianceGuard"). [1][2]
The fraud
Per the SEC and DOJ, Boaz Manor — who had served prison time over the collapse of Canadian hedge fund Portus — concealed his identity and criminal past by darkening his hair, growing a beard, and using the alias "Shaun MacDonald," while portraying associate Edith Pardo as the businesses' owner. They falsely claimed 20 hedge funds were testing the technology; in reality only a prototype reached about a dozen funds, none of which used or paid for it. [1][2]
Outcome
In January 2020 the SEC charged Manor and Pardo with antifraud and registration violations, and the U.S. Attorney (District of New Jersey) brought parallel criminal charges (conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud). Manor was reported at large at indictment; Pardo was arrested. [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
People & entities involved
Boaz ManorOperator (concealed identity)IndividualsA previously convicted Canadian ex-hedge-fund manager who, per the SEC and DOJ, secretly ran the $30M Blockchain Terminal ICO under the alias 'Shaun MacDonald' to hide his criminal past. Charged civilly and criminally in 2020.
- Edith PardoFront ownerIndividualsA New Jersey associate of Boaz Manor whom the SEC said acted as a 'front' presented as the owner of the Blockchain Terminal businesses to conceal Manor's control. Charged civilly by the SEC and criminally in 2020.
Sources (2)
See also
$MELANIA tokenMarket manipulationA Solana memecoin announced by Melania Trump on Jan 19, 2025. Per FT analysis, ~24 wallets bought in minutes before the public announcement and netted ~$99.6M as retail piled in; the token then fell 95%+. Early buys were traced to wallets linked to $LIBRA figure Hayden Davis. No charges have been filed.
$TRUMP tokenMarket manipulationA Solana memecoin launched days before Donald Trump's second inauguration (Jan 2025). Trump-linked entities hold 80% of supply and earned $320M+ in fees while ~760,000 mostly-retail wallets lost money; a 'dinner with the president' promotion for top holders drew conflict-of-interest scrutiny. The 'scam' label is contested and no charges have been filed.
This page was last updated on Jun 15, 2026. View revision history.