September 19, 2024 at 06:57PM Two suspects, Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano, were arrested in Miami for stealing over $230 million in cryptocurrency. They gained unauthorized access to victims’ crypto accounts, laundered the proceeds, and financed lavish lifestyles. Investigators identified a third conspirator known as “Wiz.” The FBI tracked the suspects through their spending and … Read more
August 20, 2024 at 08:24AM Chainalysis reported an increase in ransomware payments and stolen cryptocurrency in the first half of 2024. While illegal on-chain activity decreased by 20%, ransomware payments rose by 2% to $459.8 million. The median ransom payment increased from $200,000 to $1.5 million. Stolen cryptocurrency losses reached $1.58 billion by July 2024, … Read more
June 17, 2024 at 04:20PM Two alleged administrators of the dark-web bazaar Empire Market, Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton, have been arrested for their ownership and operation of the site. They are accused of facilitating millions of dollars in illegal transactions for drugs, fraud, and other illicit goods. The duo also faces charges related to … Read more
May 23, 2024 at 05:07PM Cryptocurrency traders engage in risky tactics, with two MIT graduate brothers standing out for exploiting a software flaw on the Etherium blockchain, resulting in a $25 million theft. Such attacks raise concerns about the blockchain’s integrity. Despite government crackdowns, cryptocurrency continues to face growing pains. Traders use various tactics, including … Read more
May 18, 2024 at 02:36AM The US Department of Justice has charged computer scientists Anton and James Peraire-Bueno with exploiting open-source software in the Ethereum blockchain to steal $25 million. The scheme involved tampering with blockchain protocols in a 12-second heist. The brothers set up shell companies to handle the funds, but their online activities … Read more
May 7, 2024 at 05:42AM Russian operator Alexander Vinnik pleaded guilty to money laundering charges from 2011 to 2017 related to the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. Accused of managing BTC-e which facilitated criminal transactions, Vinnik’s actions led to over $121 million in losses. The exchange received billions in transactions and has faced penalties for violating anti-money … Read more
February 12, 2024 at 03:46PM The UN is investigating multiple crypto cyberattacks linked to the North Korean regime, believed to have generated billions for funding its nuclear program. Based on the meeting notes, it seems that the UN is looking into numerous cyberattacks related to cryptocurrency that are believed to have generated significant funds for … Read more
January 8, 2024 at 12:09AM North Korean threat actors plundered over $600 million in cryptocurrency in 2023, amounting to almost a third of all funds stolen in crypto attacks. These financially-motivated attacks support the nation’s weapons programs, with stolen assets typically converted to hard currency. The U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions have not halted their evolving … Read more
December 8, 2023 at 01:06AM Anatoly Legkodymov, the Russian founder of Bitzlato exchange, has pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting service used for laundering criminal funds. He could face a five-year prison sentence. Bitzlato, linked to the darknet market Hydra, processed over $2.5 billion, with lax KYC measures. Key Takeaways from Meeting Notes on … Read more