FBI Seizes $6M in Crypto From Southeast Asian Scammers

U.S. authorities have seized over $6 million worth of cryptocurrency linked to a fraudulent investment scheme organized by Southeast Asian criminals. Targeting U.S. individuals, the criminals manipulated victims through fake cryptocurrency platforms. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recovered the funds using blockchain tracing. DOJ Seizes $6 Million in … Read more

Crypto Platform CEO Arrested for Allegedly Paying Deputies in Extortion Scheme

Crypto platform Zort’s CEO has been arrested on multiple charges. Allegations against Iza include paying large sums to Los Angeles County deputies for illegal activities, such as unlawful searches, extortion schemes, and even a failed kidnapping attempt. “Iza boasted about paying ‘active duty’ law enforcement $280,000 per month,” according to the authorities. Crypto Platform CEO … Read more

Blackrock Amasses $24 Billion in Bitcoin, Approaches 2% of Total Supply

From Jan. 11 to Sept. 26, 2024, Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, collected an astonishing 363,626.36 bitcoin, valued at just over $24 billion as of Sept. 27. This accumulation puts Blackrock’s exchange-traded fund (ETF), IBIT, on the cusp of controlling nearly 2% of bitcoin’s total supply. A Look at How Blackrock Quickly Accumulated Billions … Read more

US Authorities Bust Billion-Dollar Crypto Laundering Network, Charge 2 Russians

Two Russian nationals have been charged with running a massive money laundering network that processed billions through cryptocurrency exchanges, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. These exchanges, including Cryptex and Joker’s Stash, enabled criminals to bypass regulations and funnel funds from fraud, ransomware, and darknet activities. U.S. authorities, in collaboration with international law enforcement, … Read more

BNY Mellon Engages With Banking Regulators to Offer Crypto Custody Services ‘at Scale’

BNY Mellon, one of the world’s largest custodian banks, is seeking to offer custody services for bitcoin and ether to exchange-traded product (ETP) clients. The bank is also eyeing large-scale growth in the crypto space, with plans to seek more regulatory approvals to capitalize on the lucrative crypto custody market. BNY Mellon Pushes Forward With … Read more

Russia’s Cybercrime Damage Exceeds $1.25 Billion in 2024, Minister Says

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev has revealed that cybercrime damage in Russia has surpassed $1.25 billion so far this year, with both individuals and organizations, including government bodies, as frequent targets. He highlighted that cybercrime now represents 40% of all crimes in the country, rising to 60% in serious cases. Cybercrime Costs Russia Over $1.25 … Read more

Russian Expert Discusses End of Internet Anonymity With Passport-Based Access

A Russian digital services expert has predicted a future where passport-based identification for Internet access becomes the norm, citing a broader trend towards the de-anonymization of online spaces. His comments follow a move by Telegram to disclose user data during rule violation investigations, reflecting a significant shift in how anonymity is handled on the web. … Read more

FBI Warns of Growing ‘Pig Butchering’ Crypto Schemes in Maryland

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore office has issued a warning about the increasing prevalence of cryptocurrency investment fraud in Maryland. Known as “pig butchering,” scammers trick victims into fake crypto investments, leading to massive financial losses. FBI Warns of Surge in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams in Maryland The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore … Read more

North Korea Signals Closer BRICS Relations Amid Growing Russia Ties

North Korea may be ramping up efforts to align itself with the BRICS economic bloc, as its top diplomat skipped the United Nations General Assembly in favor of a BRICS-related event. Analysts suggest that while Kim Jong-un seeks to break diplomatic isolation through such alliances, North Korea’s sanctions and economic constraints make membership unlikely. Recent … Read more

Binance Helps Indonesian Authorities Recover Funds in Crypto Fraud Bust

Crypto exchanges Binance and Tokocrypto collaborated with Indonesian law enforcement to crack down on a crypto scam, seizing $200,000 in stolen assets. “During the investigation, multiple individuals involved in managing the accounts that received the stolen funds were arrested,” Binance stated. Binance and Tokocrypto Help Bust Major Crypto Fraud in Indonesia Crypto exchange Binance announced … Read more