Florida Man Sues Crypto Trading School Over $860K Loss in Alleged Scam

A Colorado-based crypto trading school faces legal action after a Florida investor alleged it orchestrated an $860,000 fraud through a sham exchange. Brian Firestone's federal lawsuit claims Alpha Stock Investment Training Center (ASITC) partnered with fictitious platform CoinBridge Partners, which purportedly raised $10 million from 600 investors.

The scheme allegedly began when a representative named John Smith offered Firestone a $500 'learning incentive' before directing him to execute trades via CoinBridge. Court documents describe a 'signal trading' method where instructors messaged students with specific trade instructions—a tactic Firestone asserts was designed to siphon funds.

Neither ASITC's defunct website nor CoinBridge appear operational. The case highlights persistent risks in crypto education programs that blur lines between instruction and asset management.