DOJ charges former Robinhood engineers with crypto front-running scheme

crypto front-running — The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two former Robinhood engineers with orchestrating a front-running scheme involving crypto token listings on the Hyperliquid exchange.

According to prosecutors, the two individuals allegedly took positions in specific tokens ahead of Robinhood’s public listing announcements, profiting from the subsequent price movements. The alleged illicit activity took place between 2025 and 2026.

The charges highlight ongoing regulatory scrutiny of potential market manipulation within the crypto industry, particularly concerning the conduct of employees at major trading platforms.