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US Charges Ethereum Dev’s Conspirators Allegedly Helping North Korea Evade Sanctions Using Crypto
26.4.2022
Two European citizens have been charged for conspiring with Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith to help North Korea evade U.S. sanctions using cryptocurrency, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. They conspired “to teach and advise members of the North Korean government on cutting-edge...
US Senator: China’s Digital Currency Could Subvert US Sanctions, Enhance Surveillance Capabilities
8.2.2022
A U.S. senator has warned about China’s central bank digital currency. “Analysts have raised the eCNY’s potential to subvert U.S. sanctions, facilitate illicit money flows, enhance China’s surveillance capabilities, and provide Beijing with ‘first mover’...
Gitcoin Deactivates Grant for Farsi Speaking Communities Due to U.S. Sanctions
10.12.2021
Gitcoin, an organization that helps fund open source projects around the Ethereum blockchain, has deactivated a grant due to it being directed to individuals from a sanctioned country. The grant, called “Free Smart Contract Development Course for Farsi Speaking Communities,”...
Treasury Says Crypto Reduces Efficacy of US Sanctions, Seeks More Funding
20.10.2021
The U.S. Department of the Treasury says that the growing use of crypto assets challenges the efficacy of American sanctions. “We are mindful of the risk that, if left unchecked, these digital assets and payments systems could harm the efficacy of our sanctions,” the Treasury...
Blacklisted Suex Addresses Received Over $900 Million in Crypto, Report Reveals
23.9.2021
Cryptocurrency addresses allegedly used by Russian exchange Suex, recently placed under U.S. sanctions, have received more than $934 million in crypto assets, blockchain analysis suggests. According to the Treasury Department, over 40% of the platform’s transactions involved criminal actors....
Zimbabwe Proposes Inclusion of VASPs in Its Securities Law — Move Applauded as ‘Step in Right Direction’
20.7.2021
The Zimbabwean government recently revealed its intention to widen the definition of securities to include virtual asset service providers (VASPs). According to a document released by the cabinet, the proposed inclusion of VASPs into the category of defined securities will be made possible via...
De-Dollarization: Russia Removing All US Dollar Assets From Its $600 Billion National Wealth Fund
5.6.2021
Russia has reportedly announced that U.S. dollar assets will be removed from its National Wealth Fund as U.S. sanctions on Moscow intensify. The fund, which currently totals about $600.9 billion, forms part of Russia’s gold and currency reserves. Russia Steps up De-Dollarization Efforts...
Another crypto firm hit with fines for violating U.S. sanctions
18.2.2021
BitPay apparently screened merchants but not customers
Venezuelan Crypto-Friendly Freelancing Platform Emerges Amid Economic Crisis, US Sanctions
10.12.2020
More cryptocurrency solutions keep appearing on the scene for Venezuelan residents as U.S. sanctions weigh on Nicolás Maduro’s government, including heavy restrictions on the circulation of foreign exchange transactions, driving people to find on crypto a way to circumvent such hurdles...
Venezuela Pays for Imports From Iran and Turkey With Bitcoin to Evade Sanctions
9.12.2020
Venezuela is reportedly paying companies in allied countries, including Iran and Turkey, with bitcoin to mitigate the effects of U.S. sanctions on its economy. The Venezuelan government is also planning to increase bitcoin usage now that it has a dedicated cryptocurrency mining center. Venezuela...
Venezuelan Army Starts Mining Bitcoin for ‘Unblockable Income’
30.11.2020
The Venezuelan Army has inaugurated a cryptocurrency mining center with bitcoin mining equipment aimed at generating “unblockable income,” as the country attempts to bypass U.S. sanctions. The crypto mining center has the support of the country’s crypto regulator, Sunacrip....
Venezuela To Start Using Cryptocurrency in Global Trade in Efforts To Fend off U.S. Sanctions
1.10.2020
Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro says the country is to start using cryptocurrency in both domestic and global trade, as part of efforts to neutralize crippling U.S. economic sanctions. Speaking in the country’s parliament on Sept. 29, Maduro revealed that the move will “give...
US Law Enforcement Promises $5M for the Capture of Venezuela’s Superintendent of Cryptocurrencies
2.6.2020
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has put out a bounty for $5 million for the arrest and conviction of Venezuela’s superintendent of cryptocurrency. Joselit de la Trinidad Ramirez Camacho is now added to America’s Most...
Iran to Cut 4 Zeros From Its Currency Amid Chronic Inflation and US Sanctions
7.5.2020
Iranian lawmakers have reportedly approved a plan to slash four zeros from the national currency, the rial, which has been falling sharply in value amid chronic inflation and the U.S. sanctions. The official currency will also be replaced. Economists are skeptical about how the changes will affect...
Iran Licenses $7.3 Million Bitcoin Mining Enterprise, Move Aimed at Easing U.S. Sanctions
5.5.2020
Iran has issued a bitcoin mining license to Iminer, a Turkish-based company. Iminer will operate up to 6,000 rigs, with a computing power of 96,000 terahash per second (TH/s) in total. According to media reports, the miner has spent $7.3 million setting up the mining facility, located...
Virgil Griffith Pleads Not Guilty to Evading U.S. Sanctions in North Korea Jaunt
30.1.2020
Virgil Griffith pleads innocent in North Korea sanctions case
How North Korea Uses Cryptocurrencies to Get Around U.S. Sanctions
29.9.2019
North Korea has always been under suspicion for either being involved with some notorious projects or for directly or indirectly funding weapons of mass destruction using digital currencies. Recently, the country was accused of stealing cryptos worth $2 billion to support the development of deadly...
U.S. Sanctions North Korean Hacking Groups for Supporting illicit Weapon and Missile Programs
15.9.2019
Recently, the U.S. has sanctioned three elements it blamed for executing cyber attacks in the interest of the North Korean government to help Pyongyang’s “illicit weapon and missile programs.” Further, the operation might focus on the Bluenoroff, Lazarus Group, and Andariel,...
Cuba ‘Studying Cryptocurrency’ To Dodge U.S. Sanctions, Says Gov’t
3.7.2019
In the face of increasing U.S. sanctions, Cuba is pondering joining Venezuela on crypto