CRYPTOCURRENCY
Taiwanese Authorities Caution Against Crypto Betting for 2024 Presidential Election
Taiwanese authorities warn against using cryptocurrency betting platforms for the January 2024 presidential election, amid ongoing investigations and multiple arrests.
HKPF and SFC Form Joint Working Group to Tackle Illicit Activities in VATPs
The HKPF and SFC have formed a joint working group to enhance monitoring and investigation of illegal activities related to VATPs. The group aims to facilitate information sharing, assess risks, and collaborate on investigations. The move comes amid ongoing investigations into the unlicensed operations of the Dubai-based JPEX exchange.
Terraform Labs CEO Sends Millions to Law Firm Before Collapse
Terraform Labs CEO, Do Kwon, sent millions to a South Korean law firm right before the company's collapse. Prosecutors believe Kwon's actions were deliberate and prove his awareness of the impending collapse and anticipated legal problems. Kwon is currently facing extradition to both the United States and South Korea, and prosecutors suspect he converted illegal funds from Terra to Bitcoin. Prosecutors have identified over $314 million in illicit assets associated with Kwon and his associates.
South Koreans transacted $4.3 billion through illegal crypto exchanges
In 2022, South Koreans transacted $4.3 billion through illegal crypto exchanges, comprising almost 70% of all illicit money traffic captured by officers. The transactions aimed to purchase foreign virtual assets to sell in the country later due to the South Korean regulatory regime isolating the local market.
Australian regulator sues Finder.com for crypto yield offering
Australia's financial services authority is suing Finder.com for selling a bitcoin yield-bearing instrument without a license. Finder disputes ASIC's accusation that a registered exchange product was unlicensed, but it hasn't said whether it would contest the complaint. After Block Earner last November, it's the regulator's second domestic crypto income product supplier. ASIC sued Finder.com for selling three crypto-backed fixed-yield products without an AFS license. The regulator's third action against crypto financial products and businesses in three months. When asked whether it will fight the action, Finder declined to respond.
US CFTC Charges BitMEX For Operating Illegal Crypto Derivatives Exchange
The United States CFTC has charged operators of BitMEX for operating an unregistered trading platform and violating anti-money laundering procedures.
Malaysian Authorities Shut Down Illegal Bitcoin Miners For $600K Power Theft
Malaysian police have shut down two illegal Bitcoin mining operations which had been siphoning power continuously for the past three years.
Malaysia’s Financial Regulator Says Binance is Not Authorized to Operate in the Country
The Securities Commission (SC) of Malaysia, the country’s financial regulator, has announced that Binance cryptocurrency exchange is not unauthorized to operate in the country. The financial watchdog has, therefore, put the crypto exchange on the list of unlicensed companies.
Dark Web Sucks in Bitcoin Payments From Viewers Paying to See Livestream Murder
Two 17-year-old Italians have been detained under the Delirium operation for instigating child pornography and live torture viewings on the dark web. The two Italians paid Bitcoin (BTC) to a dark site address in order to unlock explicit footage of children being sexually abused.
Bitcoin and Bad Guys
With Bitcoin a growing number of people have been choosing to opt-out of the traditional financial system, and others have even chosen to use the cryptocurrency to circumvent regulation altogether, leading to its unfortunate connection with illegal activity and shady characters.