crypto crime

Fresh data by on-chain analytics firm Chainalysis found that nine figures worth of illicit funds have found their way into the digital asset space. What Happened: Nearly $100 billion in illegal funds have circulated through the cryptocurrency market since 2019, according to Bloomberg, citing a...

The U.S. Department of State has announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ruja Ignatova, a German national wanted for her role in a massive cryptocurrency fraud scheme. What Happened: The $5 million reward, authorized under the Transnational...

A chilling case out of North Carolina has shed light on a lesser-known method of stealing cryptocurrency: violent home invasions. What Happened: Remy St. Felix, 24, from Florida, was convicted of leading a gang that targeted crypto holders across several states. Unlike the typical image of a hacker...

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom have arrested two individuals suspected of running an unregistered crypto asset exchange worth over 1 billion British Pounds ($1.2 billion). What Happened: The operation highlights the FCA’s...

Criminal networks in Mexico are leveraging popular cryptocurrencies to finance the procurement of raw materials for fentanyl production, according to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). What Happened: The advisory, released on Thursday, highlights the...

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino on Wednesday cautioned that a well-known email newsletter vendor used by numerous cryptocurrency firms might have been compromised. What Happened: “We received now two independent confirmations that a prominent vendor used by crypto companies to manage mailing lists...

In a shocking development, a Utah woman confessed to paying Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) to carry out a murder for hire.  What Happened: According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah, 23-year-old Krista Renae Stone pleaded guilty to using the dark web to murder...

The founder of the infamous OneCoin scam Ruja Ignatova, missing and presumed dead for several years, had extensive ties to high-profile organized crime figures, according to a new BBC report. What Happened: The BBC’s investigation revealed that Ignatova had close ties with Hristoforos Nikos...

DMM Bitcoin, a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange, announced on Friday that over $300 million worth of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) had been stolen in an “unauthorized leak.” What Happened: According to a blog post by DMM Bitcoin, the theft involved 4,502.9 BTC, valued at approximately $305.1...

Bitcoin Magazine editor Pete Rizzo took to his X account to share the story of Zhao Tong, who created the first-ever crypto margin exchange, Bitcoinica, and ultimately lost 99,000 Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) with its downfall. What Happened: Tong, a 16-year-old Chinese teen, discovered Bitcoin in 2010...

Popular Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) based meme coin platform Pump.Fun faced a scare on Thursday after a former employee exploited a vulnerability to manipulate the platform’s system. What Happened: The incident, which saw the perpetrator siphon off roughly $1.9 million worth of SOL tokens, sent...

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a warning about a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called "Quantum AI," which utilizes deepfakes of Elon Musk to lure victims. This scam, though not new, underscores the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in...

Aiden Pleterski, who dubbed himself the “Crypto King,” has been arrested following a comprehensive 16-month investigation by the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS). What Happened: Pleterski, a 25-year-old resident of Whitby, faces charges of Fraud Over $5000 and Laundering Proceeds...

Alexey Pertsev, a developer associated with Tornado Cash, has been convicted of money laundering by the s-Hertogenbosch court in the Netherlands. What Happened: The court sentenced Pertsev to 64 months in prison following a verdict on Tuesday, Coindesk reported. The 31-year-old Russian national...

Maximilien de Hoop Cartier, claimed descendant of the esteemed Cartier jewelry lineage, has been formally charged with multiple counts of money laundering, bank fraud and running an unlicensed money transmitting business. What Happened: The charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office...