Crime


Policy

Russian-Speaking Groups Responsible for Majority of Crypto Ransomware Attacks in 2023: TRM Labs

Inflows to Russia-based crypto exchange Garantex accounted for 82% of the crypto volumes that belonged to sanctioned entities internationally, the report added.

Russian flag (Egor Filin/ Unsplash)

Policy

2 Promoters of Forcount Crypto Ponzi Scheme Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy

Promoters of the Brazil-based crypto scam stole a collective $8.4 million from Spanish-speaking investors around the world.

Crime (niu niu / Unsplash)

Policy

UK Regulator FCA Arrests Two People Associated With 1B-Pound Illegal Crypto Business

The two suspects were interviewed under caution by the FCA and then released on bail.

(FCA)

Policy

Former Binance CEO CZ Begins 4-Month Prison Sentence in California

Lompoc II, the California prison where CZ will serve his sentence, is a low-security facility.

(Photos from Smorshedi/Wikimedia Commons and CoinDesk/Flickr, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Crypto Bettors Lay 17% Odds on Donald Trump in Jail Before Election Day

Gamblers have placed almost $900,000 in bets on the “Trump in jail before election day?” market on the predictions application Polymarket.

(Shaleah Craighead/Wikimedia Commons, modified by CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. Treasury Describes NFTs as 'Highly Susceptible to Use in Fraud and Scams'

"Illicit actors can use NFTs to launder proceeds from predicate crimes, often in combination with other methods to obfuscate the illicit source of proceeds of crime," the Treasury found.

U.S. Treasury Building (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

British-Chinese Money Launder Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Role in $6B Fraud: FT

Jian Wen, 42, who was alleged to have carrying out the laundering on behalf of her former boss, was found guilty in March

(Shutterstock)

Policy

Alleged Owner of Darknet Narcotics Bazaar ‘Incognito Market’ Arrested in New York

Taiwanese national Rui-Siang Lin, 23 is accused of facilitating $100 million in sales paid through crypto of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl, through the online marketplace.

Crypto hacks, scams and exploits netted some $2 billion this year. (fikry anshor/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Policy

Canada’s ‘Crypto King’ and Associate Arrested, Charged With Fraud in Alleged $30M Ponzi Scheme

Aiden Pleterski, 25, was reportedly kidnapped, beaten and tortured by five of his alleged victims last summer.

Crime (niu niu / Unsplash)

Policy

Chinese Police Bust $296M Illegal Crypto-Based Currency Operation: Report

Police in Panshi City, Jilin arrested six people for running an "underground bank."

(chinahbzyg/Shutterstock)