Crypto Scam Busted—Victims One Step Closer to Justice

A South Lake Tahoe man, Daniel Chartraw, 51, faces a 12-count federal indictment for wire fraud linked to a cryptocurrency trading scheme, per U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Arrested recently, Chartraw allegedly misled investors through his companies, Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global, by falsely promoting a proprietary algorithm for high returns. Instead of investing funds, … Read more

US Charges 2 Men in $22 Million NFT Rugpull Crypto Fraud Scheme

Two Southern California men, Gabriel Hay and Gavin Mayo, face charges for allegedly defrauding investors of over $22 million in cryptocurrency through fraudulent NFT and digital asset schemes. The indictment reveals they conducted a series of “rugpulls,” soliciting funds for NFT projects that were abandoned after collecting investments. The alleged scams involved projects like Vault … Read more

Prison Time Looms for Bitcoin Trader—Justice or Crypto Clampdown?

A Massachusetts man, Alan Joseph, 36, has been convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmission business and laundering funds after converting cash linked to counterfeit goods into bitcoin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced on Thursday. Convicted on Nov. 22, following a five-day jury trial, Joseph was found guilty of facilitating illegal cash-for-crypto transactions, including a … Read more

EU Bleeds €1.5 Trillion Under Anti-Russian Sanctions, Report

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has claimed that the European Union has suffered financial losses exceeding €1.5 trillion (approximately $1.58 trillion) due to sanctions imposed on Russia. Speaking in Moscow, Grushko described these sanctions as a “self-destructive” policy, criticizing the EU for making what he termed a costly political decision. He highlighted that these … Read more

JPMorgan Hails Historic Rally as Crypto Soars in Unmatched November

November marked a historic surge in the crypto market, with total market capitalization rising by an unprecedented 45%, reaching $3.3 trillion, according to JPMorgan. “President-elect Donald Trump’s reelection triggered a historic rally and jump in market caps across the crypto ecosystem,” said the bank’s analysts, led by Kenneth Worthington. They explained that the rally bolstered … Read more

Iranian Crypto Holdings Equal a Third of National Gold Market

Iranian crypto holdings, valued between $30 billion and $50 billion, constitute about a third of the national gold market, according to economist Mohammad Sadegh Alhosseini. Daily cryptocurrency trading in Iran is approximately $143 million (100 trillion rials). The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and the finance ministry are working on measures to enhance transparency in … Read more

Iran Embraces Crypto Regulation to Counter Economic Sanctions

Iran is shifting its stance on digital currencies, focusing on regulation rather than imposing restrictions, according to Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati. Speaking at a Tehran event, Hemmati highlighted the government’s plan to mitigate the economic risks of digital currencies while leveraging their potential benefits. He emphasized the Central Bank of Iran’s authority in managing digital assets … Read more

A Crypto Tax Paradise? Czech Republic Pioneers Tax-Free Crypto Policies

Czech lawmakers have approved a groundbreaking tax reform exempting bitcoin and other digital assets from capital gains tax if held for over three years, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Additionally, annual crypto income below CZK 100,000 ($4,000) will be tax-free. Prime Minister Petr Fiala highlighted the policy as a move to simplify taxation, promote long-term holding … Read more

FBI Cracks $8.3M Crypto Fraud: Launderer Sentenced to Prison and $2.3M Repayment

A Maryland Heights man, Richard Charles Appelbaum III, has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to repay $2.3 million for his role in laundering millions through cryptocurrency. Appelbaum, 40, conspired with others to funnel proceeds from Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance fraud schemes into cryptocurrency via Coins2trade. Recruited by “E.S.,” allegedly … Read more

Putin Confirms Digital Ruble Integration in Russia’s Federal Budget

Russia is set to integrate its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, into its federal budget system starting next year, with nationwide adoption targeted by July 1, 2025, President Vladimir Putin announced at the 15th VTB Russia Calling! Investment Forum. Highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance business efficiency, Putin emphasized the development of infrastructure … Read more