Douver Braga’s Trade Coin Club criminal case lawyers have withdrawn.

In a January 18th filing, Braga’s former attorneys claimed “continued representation [was] ethically untenable”.

From the same filing;

Discovery is ongoing and contains a massive amount of electronic data, documents and other materials.

Additional review and defense development are required to meet professional and ethical standards applicable to criminal defense counsel.

As set forth below, withdrawal of [attorneys] is required due to irreconcilable and continuing disagreements concerning fundamental issues of the representation, including trial readiness and case strategy, which render continued representation ethically untenable.

Unfortunately due to attorney-client privilege, specifics of Braga’s attorney’s ethical concerns were filed under seal. This is all that was disclosed;

Good cause exists because of irreconcilable differences between Mr. Volkov and Mr. Braga and continuing disagreements concerning trial readiness, strategic direction, and critical defense decisions.

These disagreements are not isolated and have materially impaired the attorney-client relationship.

Proceeding to trial under the present circumstances would materially impair counsel’s ability to provide effective assistance and would conflict with counsel’s professional and ethical obligations.

At time of publication court approval of Braga’s attorney’s withdrawal remains pending. Given an early January 2026 order continued Braga’s February 2026 trial date to September, the withdrawal motion is expected to be granted later this month.

Braga is facing criminal charges related to the Trade Club Coin MLM crypto Ponzi.

Braga, a Brazilian national, was extradited to the US following his arrest in Switzerland in early 2025.  In March 2025, Braga was ordered detained pending trial, now scheduled for September 21st, 2026.

The SEC filed parallel civil fraud charges against Braga and three Trade Coin Club co-conspirators in late 2022.