Crime


Policy

Accused Bitfinex Launderer Heather Morgan Might Be Offered a Plea Deal

At Morgan’s arraignment on Monday, prosecutors told a federal judge they’re in talks with the defense to find a “resolution” to the criminal case that would see Morgan avoid trial.

Heather Morgan, from her video "Rap Anthem for Misfits & Weirdos: Versace Bedouin Music Video (2019)" (Razzlekhan on YouTube)

Policy

IRA Financial 'Swatted' at Time of $36M Crypto Hack, Police Officer Tells Victim

The detail adds another layer of intrigue to the seemingly inexplicable hack of IRA Financial Trust, an institutional partner of the Gemini exchange.

(FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin)

Policy

China’s Supreme Court Targets Illegal Fundraising Via Crypto Transactions

The ruling paves the way for violators to be criminally prosecuted, with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $79,000.

Gateway to China's supreme court, Beijing (Rneches/Wikimedia Commons)

Policy

Chainalysis Says ‘Criminal Whales' Account for 4% of the Overall Pod

A new report from blockchain research firm Chainalysis says criminal whales held over $25 billion worth of cryptocurrency at the end of 2021.

Beluga whales swim in the Churchill River, Manitoba, Canada. (Getty Images)

Finance

Russia-Affiliated Addresses Received 74% of Ransomware Revenue Last Year: Chainalysis

Moscow City firms received as much as 48% of their crypto from illicit addresses.

Moscow.

Finance

Former Attorney Pleads Guilty to Bitcoin Fraud That Bilked Investors Out of $5M

Philip Reichenthal and his co-conspirators persuaded their victims to send them millions of dollars to buy bitcoin and then just pocketed the money themselves.

justice, law, crime

Policy

New Documents Detail Prosecutors’ Concerns That Bitfinex Hack Laundering Suspects Would Flee

Prosecution also combatted the defense portrayal of Heather Morgan as an unwitting accomplice to her husband’s alleged crimes.

The Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York courthouse in New York (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Opinion

4 Unanswered Questions About the Bitfinex Hack

Even after high-profile arrests, we don't have the full story behind the $4.6 billion crypto heist.

Heather Morgan, who along with her husband Ilya "Dutch" Lichtenstein, is accused of attempting to launder more than $4 billion worth of stolen bitcoin. (Heather Morgan/Facebook)

Finance

New Chainalysis Report Suggests NFT Crime Doesn’t (Always) Pay

More NFT wash traders lost money than made money in 2021, according to the blockchain research firm’s data.

Chainalysis image via CoinDesk archives

Markets

Tokens Related to Wonderland Developer Plunge After QuadrigaCX Revelation

Tokens of projects on the Avalanche and Ethereum networks started by Wonderland’s creator fell by as much as 22% in the past 24 hours.

The price of TIME fell to as low as $290 on Thursday. (CoinGecko)