Search
‘Ecstasy Kingpin’ From Brockton Forfeits $2.3M in Bitcoin to Massachusetts Law Enforcement
14.3.2022
A man from Brockton, Massachusetts was sentenced to eight years in prison and forced to forfeit 59 bitcoin worth $2.3 million, after he was caught selling Xanax, ecstasy, and ketamine on the deep web. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins stressed during the announcement that the government...
Chainalysis Study Shows ‘Criminal Whales’ Hold $25B in Digital Assets, Entities Represent 3.7% of All Crypto Whales
24.2.2022
According to research published by Chainalysis, criminal entities hold more than $25 billion in cryptocurrencies. The blockchain intelligence firm’s study shows that there was a significant increase in crypto balances held by criminals in 2021 as the metric jumped by 266% since the year...
Russia Takes Down 4 Carding Sites With Over $260 Million in Crypto Turnover
12.2.2022
Law enforcement in Russia has blocked major sites on the dark web, including a carding market leader. The platforms have been seized amid ongoing investigations into hacking groups, with Russian authorities ramping up efforts to dismantle the cybercrime rings and detain their members. Interior...
India’s Monetary Policy Committee Member: Total Crypto Ban Is Difficult to Implement, Crypto Assets Should Be Regulated
5.1.2022
A renowned economist who is a member of India’s Monetary Policy Committee says that a total cryptocurrency ban is difficult to implement and “would only increase illegal activities and participation in the darknet.” She believes that crypto assets should be regulated. Monetary...
Russian Government to Track Crypto Transactions With Help From Anti-Drug Organization
4.11.2021
Russian institutions have responded to a call from а public movement for joint efforts to identify cryptocurrency transfers related to drug trade. The anti-drug organization, Stopnarkotik, recently asked the interior ministry and the central bank to investigate alleged connections between...
Silk Road 2 Admin Forfeits $667,000 in Bitcoin to British Law Enforcement
3.11.2021
According to reports, the founder of the now-defunct Silk Road 2 marketplace has forfeited more than half-billion dollars worth of bitcoin to British authorities. White’s Silk Road 2 admin handle was called “Cthulhu,” and he also dubbed himself as “DPR2.” Silk...
International Operation Dark Huntor Seizes $31.6 Million in Cash and Cryptocurrencies, 150 Arrested
28.10.2021
Operation Dark Huntor, a coordinated international effort on three continents to disrupt opioid trafficking on the darknet, has led to the arrests of 150 people. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the operation has also resulted in the seizure of over $31.6 million in cash...
Ukraine Security Service Busts Criminal Group Selling Bitcoin-Stealing Malware
27.10.2021
Law enforcement authorities in Ukraine have exposed a crime ring specializing in cryptocurrency theft and laundering of illicit funds for hackers. The gang, which provided services to clients on the darknet, has been dismantled as a result of a joint operation carried out with the United States....
Germany Auctions Bitcoin Seized From Darknet: Bargain Hunters Flock to Buy Cheap BTC
27.10.2021
German authorities are auctioning bitcoin seized from the darknet in cybercrime cases. The auction website reportedly experienced high traffic to bitcoin listings, with 4,000 new registered users over the past few days. German Government Auctioning Seized Bitcoin The Justice Ministry of North...
Deep Web Confusion: Ostensible Alphabay Admin ‘Desnake’ Claims the Darknet Market Has Returned
14.10.2021
In mid-July 2017, the largest darknet marketplace (DNM) Alphabay went dark and patrons didn’t know if the administrators were busted by law enforcement or if it was an exit scam. Not too long after the site went dark, law enforcement disclosed that an organized police task force, from...
World’s Largest Monero Accepting Darknet Market Reveals Retirement Plan — White House Admins Say DNM ‘Reached Its Goal’
2.10.2021
One of the largest darknet markets (DNM), White House, announced the market is retiring as the DNM’s administrators say the team has reached its goal. After revealing the retirement plan, White House admins explained that user registration and orders have been disabled. Darknet Market White...
US Sanctions Russian Crypto Broker Suex for Laundering Millions in Illicit Funds
22.9.2021
The U.S. Treasury Department has blacklisted Suex, a cryptocurrency broker based in Russia, for its money laundering activities. The platform is suspected of processing hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto transactions related to scams, ransomware attacks, darknet markets, and the infamous...
Eastern European victims sent $815M to Ponzis and scams in the past year
2.9.2021
Scams make up the largest share of funds sent from Eastern Europe to illicit addresses
Digital intelligence must overcome challenges to solving crypto crimes
20.8.2021
Changing an intelligence agency's perspective on crypto crime is the next step toward a successful crypto investigation
Darknet crypto mixer operator pleads guilty to laundering $300M in BTC
19.8.2021
The operator of the darknet-based Bitcoin mixing service Helix has pleaded guilty to laundering more than $300,000 million worth of BTC from 2014 to 2017
Founder of the Bitcoin Mixer Helix Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charges
18.8.2021
Larry Dean Harmon, founder and operator of the bitcoin mixing service Helix has pleaded guilty on Wednesday to money laundering charges. Harmon’s guilty plea follows the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Fincen) fining Harmon $60 million last year. Helix Operator...
Darknet Users Leverage a New Blockchain Analytics Tool That Scans for Ties to Criminal Activity
16.8.2021
According to the blockchain intelligence firm Elliptic, cybercriminals are leveraging cryptocurrency analytics to get ahead of law enforcement. Elliptic says a “blockchain analytics tool has been launched on the dark web” and the tool is called “Antinalysis.” Meet...
Darknet Update: Hydra Reigns, Monero Acceptance Climbs, Russian State Collusion Questioned
11.7.2021
At the end of 2020, darknet markets (DNM) set new records as marketplaces like White House and the Russian-language DNM Hydra led the pack. A report published on May 25, shows Hydra saw a 624% year-over-year growth rate in three years, and researchers estimate roughly 75% of illicit...
Researchers Spot New Cryptocurrency Stealing Malware Advertised Under a Subscription Model
5.5.2021
A cryptocurrency-related malware program has been advertised on darknet forums as the “leading way to make money in 2021,” raising alarms among the cybersecurity community. Palo Alto Networks published a report on the malicious app Westeal, detailing the author’s ties with other...
British Authorities Take Down Dark Web Ecstasy Gang, Seize $5.8M in Drugs
6.4.2021
The string of dark web gangs being cracked down by law enforcement is still alive across the world. Recently, the British authorities dismantled an unnamed dark web band known for selling ecstasy and gathering millions of dollars worth of crypto. Gang Sold Ecstasy, Amphetamine, and Diazepam...