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Tokyo Police Arrest 2 Men for Buying Cryptocurrency Tied to $530M Coincheck Hack
11.3.2020
Tokyo police arrested two individuals on Wednesday for acquiring stolen NEM from the 2018 Coincheck hack. On Jan. 26, 2018, the Japanese trading platform Coincheck noticed an “illicit transfer” of 523,000,000 NEM and it was the largest cryptocurrency exchange hack since Mt Gox....
Industry Execs Claim Freshly Minted ‘Virgin Bitcoins’ Fetch 20% Premium
8.3.2020
A few blockchain surveillance companies like Cyphertrace have recently published reports on criminal activities tied to bitcoin usage and the studies mentioned the topic of “virgin bitcoins.” According to industry executives, freshly minted bitcoins with no transaction history can sell...
Wells Fargo Fined $3 Billion for 15 Years of Illegal Practices Affecting Millions of Customers
23.2.2020
Wells Fargo, one of the largest U.S. financial services companies, has agreed to pay $3 billion to resolve the U.S. government’s investigations into fraudulent sales practices spanning over 15 years. The Wells Fargo fraud case involved the company forging customer signatures, moving money...
Ireland Seizes Bitcoin Stash Worth $56M But Can’t Sell for 7 Years
20.2.2020
Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seized 6,000 BTC from a Dublin resident who was accused of growing cannabis on property located in the Wicklow Mountain region. The police found around €450,000 of marijuana plants but the €52 million ($56.1M) of BTC was the biggest...
Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 Finance Policy Proposes Strict Bitcoin Regulations
19.2.2020
The 2020 U.S. Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg addressed the subject of cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICO) in his recently published Financial Reform Policy. Bloomberg wants more “regulatory oversight” when it comes to this promising technology, claiming he sees...
Tax Rules Hit Brazilian Crypto Exchanges, Forcing Trading Platforms Acesso Bitcoin and Latoex Out of Business
15.2.2020
Tax regulations implemented even before dedicated legislation has been adopted have hit Brazilian cryptocurrency exchanges. Digital asset brokers failing to comply with the new reporting requirements face fines and the stricter rules are hurting smaller platforms, which are shutting down due...
Tax Agents ‘Confiscate’ Bitcoin From Criminal but Keep the Coins in His Wallet
7.2.2020
The State Revenue Service of Latvia (SRS) has seized some bitcoins for the first time. The cryptocurrency, allegedly acquired through illegal means, is still being stored in the wallet set up by a criminal. Experts have expressed concerns about the risk of the money disappearing as officials...
There’s No Such Thing as Tainted Bitcoins
6.2.2020
All bitcoins are created equal. But in the eyes of blockchain forensics firms, some bitcoins are more equal than others. If these companies are to be believed, coins that have been used in criminal transactions are ‘tainted,’ destined to be forever linked with nefarious activity....
US Government Auctioning off Bitcoins Worth $37 Million in 2 Weeks
4.2.2020
The U.S. government has opened registration for the bidding of over 4,040 bitcoins, currently worth more than $37 million, which will be auctioned off on Feb. 18. The winning bidder will be notified on the same day. These bitcoins were forfeited in various federal criminal, civil and administrative...
Unnecessary Evil: How Government Regulations Kill Crypto Startups and Encourage Crime
16.1.2020
Thanks to the EU’s most recent money laundering directive, a small business called Post-a-coin, which sold cute postcards pre-loaded with tiny amounts of bitcoin, is being forced to shut down. Meanwhile, the most heinous criminals in history are continuing to facilitate violence, trafficking...
Crypto Tax Reporting Failures Can Be Expensive, Even Criminal
8.1.2020
Be careful with cryptocurrency taxes because mistakes — even accidental ones — might cost you
Privacy Coins in 2019: True Financial Freedom or a Criminal's Delight?
2.1.2020
Privacy coins have earned a certain stigma due to the anonymity they provide, but what were these cryptocurrencies truly used for in 2019?
Ethereum Proponent Virgil Griffith Deemed a Flight Risk, Judge Denies Bail
30.12.2019
U.S. law enforcement filed in November criminal charges against Ethereum researcher Virgil Griffith because he traveled to North Korea and taught “his audience how to use blockchain technology.” Griffith was arrested on Thanksgiving Day and has been forced to remain in prison the whole...
Greek Court Suspends Decision to Extradite Alleged Crypto Criminal
24.12.2019
A top Greek court has reportedly suspended the decision to extradite Alexander Vinnik, who is accused of laundering billions through crypto exchange BTC-e
Accused Onecoin Co-Conspirators Fight Criminal Charges in the US
10.12.2019
The Onecoin scam, a multi-level Ponzi scheme that acquired $4 billion from investors has been falling apart at the seams. Criminal proceedings have started against Onecoin leaders and one alleged associate who was found guilty of laundering $400 million has asked a New York judge for more time...
Criminal Activity in Crypto: The Fact, the Fiction and the Context
30.11.2019
$400 million in XRP is used in illicit activity, how does this stack up against fiat fraud, and is the reputation of the crypto industry beyond saving?
Governments Viewing Crypto as a Threat Will Be Left Behind
18.11.2019
In recent commentary at a New York blockchain conference, IRS Criminal Investigation Chief John Fort said the agency is now turning its focus to crypto ATMs and kiosks, as well as American users of foreign exchanges. While the continued push to regulate crypto is no surprise, the general narrative...
IRS Criminal Investigators Looking Into Bitcoin ATMs and Kiosks
16.11.2019
The U.S. IRS is investigating potential tax compliance issues of Bitcoin ATMs and kiosks
Criminal Case Against Failed WEX Crypto Exchange Points at Russian Law Enforcement
15.11.2019
The administrator of failed crypto exchange WEX has reportedly told Russian police that he was forced to hand over users' holdings to the FSB
International Law Enforcement Conference Addresses Crypto and the ‘Criminal Economy’
15.11.2019
The 2019 National Proceeds of Crime Conference (NPOCC) held in Brisbane, Australia from November 13-15 addressed “Globalisation and Digitisation of the Criminal Economy,” and featured 200+ delegates hearing from representatives of organizations such as the Australian Federal Police...