enforcement
US Department of Justice Releases Cryptocurrency Enforcement Framework
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a cryptocurrency enforcement framework, which offers a comprehensive overview of the emerging threats in the crypto space.
Who will Lead the Lawsuit against Ripple XRP? SEC Enforcement Director Steps Down
The SEC’s Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement will conclude his tenor by the end of this month.
Ukrainian Security Department And Law Enforcement Uncover a Crypto Mining Farm in a Railway Subdivision in Lviv
According to a report, Ukrzaliznytsia has uncovered a hidden cryptocurrency mining farm in the Lviv railway subdivision, which has been making use of the country’s electricity without paying for it. This secret mining company was discovered by Ukrzaliznytsia's security department, in conjunction with law enforcement officials.
Texas Authorities Slap “Bitcoin Pope” and Forex Birds with Cease and Desist Order for Fraudulent Investment Scheme
An emergency cease and desist order has been issued against the “Bitcoin Pope” trader, under allegations of fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
US authorities are pursuing Bitzlato's creator
Bitzlato creator Anatoly Legkodymov is arrested. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a "significant worldwide cryptocurrency enforcement action" against the corporation. "Primary money laundering issue" authorities confiscated its website.
Coinbase CLO Responds to SEC's Opposition
Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, responded to the SEC's opposition to the company's motion to dismiss the case against it. Grewal criticized the SEC for making unsupported legal claims and emphasized that the assets listed on Coinbase are not securities. He also called for regulation that listens to the crypto community and mentioned that Coinbase will file its reply on October 24, 2023.
Germany's Largest Bitcoin Seizure: 50,000 BTC Confiscated in Piracy Probe
German authorities seized 50,000 Bitcoins linked to a piracy website, with suspects transferring the digital currency to police wallets, causing uncertainty in cryptocurrency enforcement.
Finland Tracks Monero in High-Profile Cybercrime Cas
Finnish authorities traced Monero transactions in the Julius Aleksanteri Kivimäki trial, highlighting challenges in tracking privacy-focused digital currencies, a significant development in cryptocurrency-related cybercrime investigations.
Tether Intervenes on Terrorism Funding, Freezing 32 Cryptocurrency Addresses
Tether has frozen 32 cryptocurrency addresses tied to terrorism funding in Israel and Ukraine, manifesting the growing partnership between crypto firms and global law enforcement to combat digital-financed crime.
Tether Criticizes UN Report for Overlooking USDT Traceability and Law Enforcement Collaboration
Tether rebuts a UN report accusing USDT of facilitating illicit activities, underscoring its traceability and law enforcement collaboration, and highlighting USDT's positive impact on developing economies.
CFTC Whistleblower Program Gains Traction with $16 Million Awarded in 2023
The CFTC's Whistleblower Program in 2023 awarded $16 million to whistleblowers, contributing to over $3 billion in enforcement sanctions. Recognizing their role in combating financial fraud, the program now focuses on environmental fraud through a task force.
WazirX Faces Sanction For Abating Illegal Loan App Companies
Asian crypto exchange WazirX which has been under the probe of the Indian enforcement agency, Directorate of Enforcement has finally had its bank assets seized
US SEC Hiring Attorneys for Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit
The US SEC is hiring general attorneys in New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. for its Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit in the Division of Enforcement. The job will involve investigating crypto asset securities and cyber issues, drafting subpoenas, and questioning witnesses. This move comes after the SEC chairman Gary Gensler asked for $2.4 billion in funding to chase down crypto misconduct.
Here is Why Tether Blacklisted Five TRON Addresses
Tether has blacklisted five new addresses on the TRON blockchain, highlighting its efforts to maintain network integrity and security. The largest address lost over $1.2 million USDT, aiding law enforcement and users in recovering stolen funds.
DOJ's Crypto Regulation Report Overview: Bitcoin, Tether, Ether, Litecoin, and Ripple
US authorities are tightening regulations on cryptocurrencies. Here is an overview of what their recently released report suggests.
$1 Billion Worth of Bitcoin Moved from US Law Enforcement Seized Wallets
Over 50,000 Bitcoin, valued at $1 billion, were transferred from multiple wallets linked to US law enforcement seizures. Approximately 9,861 BTC was sent to Coinbase, while the rest were internal transfers. The BTC was seized from the Silk Road marketplace, one of the first darknet markets to accept Bitcoin payments.
Binance and WazirX Founders Trade Words Over the Latter's Ownership
The confiscation of the bank account of WazirX, one of the most renowned cryptocurrency trading platforms in India, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as reported earlier by Blockchain.News has opened up a more concerning question about the trading platform’s ownership
Commissioners Dissent on SEC's NFT Enforcement Action on Stoner Cats 2, LLC
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dissented on its enforcement action against Stoner Cats 2, LLC's non-fungible token (NFT) settlement. The Commissioners argue that the Howey investment contract analysis lacks a limiting principle and could stifle artists' creativity due to legal uncertainties. They call for clear guidelines for artists and creators using NFTs to support their creative endeavors and engage with fan communities.
South Korean Police Raid Bithumb Crypto Exchange Headquarters On Fraud Allegations
South Korean Police have raided the headquarters of Bithumb cryptocurrency exchange as part of an investigation into fraud.
KuCoin User Linked to Memecoin Scams
Crypto exchange KuCoin confirms a user's address is responsible for launching thousands of memecoin scams but will not freeze assets without official notice from law enforcement. The wallet address has been marked as a fake phishing wallet by blockchain explorer Etherscan.
INTERPOL Creates a Global Police Force in the Metaverse to Combat Digital Crimes
Interpol to create a new metaverse unit as it looks to combat online crime in grand style
Police Search of South Korean Coinbit Crypto Exchange Finds 99% Trade Volume Manipulation
Coinbit, the third-largest crypto exchange in South Korea, has found itself in trouble with the authorities for alleged arbitrage manipulation of the transaction volume.
Bitfinex Tackles Phishing Incident: No Customer Funds Affected
Bitfinex has resolved a phishing incident causing partial customer information exposure, confirming no loss of funds or sensitive data compromise, and ensuring ongoing security measures.
SEC Commissioner Expresses Dissent on LBRY Case Outcome
SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce criticizes the commission's enforcement action against blockchain firm LBRY, Inc., highlighting the case as an example of regulatory overreach that stifles innovation and fails to adequately protect investors. Amidst ongoing legal actions against crypto enterprises, Peirce's dissent underscores the need for a balanced regulatory approach to foster innovation and investor protection in the blockchain and crypto sectors.
How Bitcoin will react to US Government Shutdown
The impending US government shutdown threatens to delay the SEC's approval for a spot Bitcoin ETF, amongst other financial repercussions. The scenario also underscores the growing frequency of federal shutdowns and the persistent concerns of credit rating agencies over the US's fiscal policymaking, all of which could have broader implications for both traditional and crypto financial markets.
More Than $400 Million in Bitcoin Withdrawn from BitMEX Following CFTC Charges
$400 million have been withdrawn from Bitmex in less than 24 hours after the US CFTC filed a legal enforcement action against the exchange’s owners.
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.
Coinbase Legal Chief Urges Swift US Crypto Legislation Amid Israel-Hamas Tensions
Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, emphasized the importance of preventing cryptocurrency misuse and advocated for sensible crypto legislation in the US amidst geopolitical unrest involving Israel and Hamas. Grewal highlighted Coinbase's proactive measures like KYC checks and law enforcement partnerships to curb illicit activities on its platform. The discourse also spurred reactions from the crypto community regarding asset seizures and the role of other crypto exchanges like Binance.
Coinbase Calls for Judicial Intervention on SEC's Inaction
Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, has filed a formal response with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, urging a mandamus order to compel the SEC to act on Coinbase’s rulemaking petition within 30 days, highlighting the SEC's prolonged inaction and the pressing need for regulatory clarity surrounding digital assets.
Vauld Group Disagrees with Indian Authorities for Asset Seizure
Following the freezing of Vauld Group’s owned crypto platform FlipVolt by the Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED), the embattled trading firm said it did not agree with the actions of the law enforcement agency.
Tokyo District Court Ordered Japan’s First Bitcoin Seizure
The Tokyo District Court has set a legal precedent for the cryptocurrency industry in Japan, by issuing the first Bitcoin seizure.
Coinbase CEO Compares SEC to Soccer Refs in Criticism of Lack of Clarity Around Crypto Regulation
Coinbase CEO, Brian Armstrong, compared the SEC to “soccer refs” in a game of pickleball, criticizing the regulator for their lack of clarity around crypto regulation. The comments came after Coinbase revealed they had been issued a Wells notice, which typically precedes an enforcement action. The crypto community has widely condemned the recent notice, with many agreeing that the SEC has reversed its earlier position regarding Coinbase.
DEA Special Agent O’Kain: Regulated Bitcoin Exchanges Are Good For Law Enforcement
DEA Special Agent Patrick O’Kain spoke at the LA Blockchain Summit on Bitcoin on the role of government agencies in policing the digital asset and blockchain space.
Chainalysis Launches Program to Help Law Enforcement with Monitoring and Storing Seized Crypto Assets
Chainalysis has launched an asset realization program intended to assist government agencies with monitoring and storing seized crypto assets.
Law Enforcement Officials Divided on Ripple XRP Outcome as SEC Lawsuit Court Date Looms
As the pretrial date for the SEC lawsuit against Ripple is set for February 22, many lawmakers have speculated on the possible outcome for XRP.
FinCEN Proposes Cryptocurrency Guidelines to Fight Money Laundering and Regulate Unhosted Wallets
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has proposed regulatory measures for businesses operating with cryptocurrencies, such as exchanges.
CipherTrace Life Hack for Criminal Investigations: How to Know if Cryptocurrency Was Utilized
CipherTrace blockchain analytics firm has revealed guidelines that could help law enforcement identify that cryptocurrency was used for illicit activities.
India Darknet Policing Ramps Up Following Drug Racket Arrests
Law enforcement agencies in India are teaming up with national research and academic institutions to enhance their ability to police the darknet.
Ripple CEO Says DOJ Report Offers No Regulatory Clarity, XRP Price Not Influenced
The tightening regulations on cryptocurrency raise many concerns in the community, the DoJ’s new guidance around cryptocurrency enforcement has Ripple’s CEO concerned.
Director of FinCEN Affirms That Cryptocurrency Industry Is in Line With Agency Regulations
The director of FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) Kenneth. A Blanco believes that the cryptocurrency industry is starting to fall in place with the agency’s regulations on money transmission services.
FinCEN Warns Social Media Companies Involved in Crypto to be Vigilant Regarding Illicit Transactions
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has urged social media and messaging companies that are working with on cryptocurrencies to be vigilant about illegal transactions.