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Moscow Confirms Arrest of Russian Crypto Entrepreneur in Amsterdam, Report Mentions FBI
6.11.2021
Authorities in the Netherlands have arrested a Russian national with a cryptocurrency business, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow has confirmed. The man involved in the establishment of two crypto exchange platforms was apprehended earlier this month, reportedly on a request from U.S. law enforcement....
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...
Amid Risk of Power Deficit, Ukraine Shuts Down Another Crypto Farm
3.11.2021
With а growing threat of electricity shortages in the winter months, Ukraine has busted another large coin minting facility illegally drawing power from the grid. The country’s security agency announced it’s stepping up efforts to ensure the nation’s energy system...
Federal Security Service of Russia Seeks Powers to Obtain Information From Crypto Platforms
31.10.2021
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has issued a draft order allowing its agents to request information from cryptocurrency platforms among other organizations. The move follows changes made to the anti-corruption legislation in Russia, the agency noted. FSB Wants Access...
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....
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...
Law Enforcement in Russia’s Samara Region Investigates 8 Cases of Fraud Related to Finiko
28.9.2021
The investigation into the Russia-based crypto pyramid Finiko is growing with law enforcement officials in Samara region announcing they have launched eight criminal cases against Finiko associates. Authorities are also working to identify more victims of the Ponzi scheme, Russia’s largest...
SEC Denies Freedom of Information Act Request Concerning Tether Documents
26.9.2021
On September 24, the staff writer for The New Republic, Jacob Silverman, tweeted about a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request he filed that was ultimately denied. On the social media platform, Silverman wrote that he got Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) responses to his FOIA requests...
Court Extends Detention of Finiko Pyramid Founder Doronin and His Right-Hand Man
25.9.2021
A court in Tatarstan has extended the detention of Kirill Doronin, founder of Russia’s largest Ponzi scheme in recent times, Finiko. Doronin will spend at least two more months in custody as authorities fear he could hide from law enforcement. Ilgiz Shakirov, vice-president of the crypto...
Former Monero Developer Spagni Released From US Prison, Pledges to Address Fraud Allegations
23.9.2021
Former Monero developer Riccardo Spagni has been released from a U.S. prison where he reportedly spent “sixty-one days in solitary confinement.” The developer’s release was prompted by the failure of South African authorities “to make a timely submission in support of...
Russian Police Arrest 2 Women, High-Ranking Members of Finiko Crypto Pyramid
11.9.2021
Law enforcement in the Russian republic of Tatarstan have made new arrests in connection with the crypto Ponzi scheme Finiko. Two women detained this week are believed to have attracted millions of dollars to the pyramid. The now collapsed Finiko lured investors from a number of countries in...
Payments Giant Mastercard Acquires Blockchain Intelligence Firm Ciphertrace
9.9.2021
Mastercard, the American multinational financial services corporation, announced the company is dipping further into the digital asset ecosystem by acquiring the blockchain intelligence firm Ciphertrace. The partnership announcement says the firm will help bolster Ciphertrace’s...
Mastermind of Zimbabwean Bitcoin Pyramid Scheme Vanishes With $6 Million
3.9.2021
Reports from Zimbabwe suggest that an individual by the name of Martin Mhlanga, who is the mastermind behind the Cryptoshares bitcoin pyramid scheme, has disappeared along with over $6 million in investor funds. In addition to Mhlanga’s disappearance, the individuals thought to be managing...
Seychelles Law Enforcement Receives Request to Probe Transfer of 230K Onecoin Bitcoins
1.9.2021
The Seychelles Police Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) recently confirmed receiving a request for an investigation into several transactions linked to the transfer of 230,000 bitcoins. The cryptocurrency is said to be associated with pyramid scam Onecoin. Onecoin Loot in Dubai Besides...
Mining Hardware Thief Gets 3-Year Sentence in Russia
30.8.2021
Russian authorities have investigated a number of cases involving the theft of crypto mining equipment in the past months. A resident of Yaroslavl has just been found guilty of stealing mining hardware worth over $20,000 and sentenced to three years in prison. Russian Convicted of Stealing Mining...
Kenyans Cautioned Against Investing in BTC Company Promising Returns of 400% in Six Hours
18.8.2021
A Kenyan regulator, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), has cautioned investors and Kenyan citizens against investing with Fxbitinvest, a bitcoin trading company. The warning was issued after the regulator noted Fxbitinvest’s use of exaggerated return-on-investment promises to lure...
US Government Now Offers Informants Crypto Rewards in Addition to Bank Wires, Suitcases Full of Cash
16.8.2021
Attendees of the Black Hat hacker conference in Las Vegas were introduced to a new advertisement crafted by the U.S. State Department. According to individuals who accessed the government advertisement via an open Wi-Fi network called “#Rewardsnotransoms” they discovered the U.S....
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...
Crypto Launderers Use Blockchain 'Antinalysis' To Evade Law Enforcement
13.8.2021
In a never-ending arms race pitting crypto compliance firms and cybercriminals, a blockchain analytics tool has been made available on the dark web, enabling bitcoin (BTC) addresses to be checked for ties to criminal activities, according to blockchain analytics company Elliptic. The tool enables...
Ukraine's state security shuts down illegal crypto exchanges
13.8.2021
Ukrainian authorities say the crypto exchanges were involved in money laundering and other illicit financial activities