nz
Ethereum, Cardano and Other Altcoins Slandered by Blockstream CEO as Ponzi Schemes
Blockstream CEO Adam Back publicly stated that Ethereum and other altcoins were Ponzi schemes, angering Ethereum co-founders Vitalik Buterin and Charles Hoskinson.
Accused Co-Founder of $9 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme Declares Not Guilty in Court
The co-founder of Zima Digital Assets, Zachary Salter and his associate, 28-year-old John Caruso jointly declared not guilty to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to attempt wire fraud during arraignment in an Arizona court on March 4.
Crypto Exchange CoinZoom Receives License to Operate in Bermuda
The license will enable CoinZoom’s mission to mainstream digital asset investing and trading.
Leaked FinCEN Files: $137M Linked to Crypto Ponzi Scam OneCoin Laundered Through Bank of New York Mellon
A leaked trove of US official documents revealed that five major banks were involved in illicit transactions pertaining to mobsters and crypto Ponzi schemes.
Forsage Founders Indicted for Alleged $340 Million "Global Ponzi" Scheme on Ethereum Blockchain
Oregon's federal grand jury indicted Forsage's founders. "Global Ponzi and pyramid scam" investors lost $340 million on the site.
Cryptos Confiscated from $4.2 Billion PlusToken Scam Likely Sold by Chinese Police, says Journalist Colin Wu
China’s crypto journalist Colin Wu believes that Chinese police have sold cryptocurrencies seized from the $4.2 billion PlusToken Ponzi crackdown.
Alonzo Smart Contract Upgrade Goes Live on Cardano
The Alonzo Hardfork with its accompanying capability for smart contracts has gone live on the Cardano blockchain.
Reebonz Tracks Provenance of its Luxury Products Using a Vechain-Powered Digital Certificate
Reebonz, the biggest luxury e-commerce company in Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia, has incorporated blockchain technology into its ecosystem to determine the provenance of its products.
Cardano (ADA) Price Analysis - March 31, 2021
Cardano will achieve another milestone through the upcoming Alonzo Hard Fork-creating an entire ecosystem of Defi projects centered on Cardano.
Tanzania wary about CBDC adoption following studies
Tanzania's central bank is proposing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). An East African interdisciplinary technical team examined CBDC hazards and advantages. Four governments have halted CBDC adoption plans, while six have abandoned digital currencies.
US CFTC Holds Meeting on Stablecoins Joined by Paxos, MakerDAO and JPM Coin Executives
The United States Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) held a meeting earlier this week to study the potential impact of the stablecoin industry. The derivatives regulator met with stablecoin industry experts to understand its future implications.
Henry Cheng's owned Knight Dragon to Issue 100,000 Tokens for Luxury Real Estates in London
Hong Kong property tycoon Henry Cheng's owned Knight Dragon announced Tuesday that it plans to issue 100,000 security tokens, named KDB4 for investors to invest in real estate items in London.
ApeCoin Experiences Sharp Price Surge on South Korean Exchange
Yuga Labs' ERC-20 token ApeCoin (APE) experienced a brief surge in price on the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, with prices reaching $90.00 per token before a sell-off reduced most of the gains. The spike was attributed to retail frenzy and trading restrictions on the exchange.
NFT Boom: OpenSea is Recording More Daily Volume than its Total 2020 Volume
Popular NFT Marketplace, OpenSea now processes 650x the daily transaction volumes it did for the whole of 2020.
Shenzhen Stock Exchange to Integrate Blockchain Technology to “Better Serve” China’s Capital Market Sector
The Shenzhen Stock Exchange, also known as the Shenzhen Stock Connect, has signed an agreement with the Guangdong Equity Exchange to jointly work on further developing the use of blockchain technology in the capital market sector.
Blockstream CEO Criticizes Sushiswap as a "Ponzi" Scheme, Ripple as a "Scam," Litecoin for "Sell the Top"
Blockstream CEO, as the firm supporter of Bitcoin, just issued a series of tweets, criticizing Sushiswap, Ripple and Litecoin.
Crypto Project Baer Chain Has Been Classified as a Ponzi Scheme by the Chinese Police Department
The police department of the Haizhou district in Lianyungang, a coastal city in China published a notice on " information verification and registration of investment members of the Baer Chain case” on June 15. According to the notice, the project has been classified as a Ponzi scheme.
Andreessen Horowitz Hires Former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz To Bolster Regulatory Expansion
The appointment of Brian Quintenz shows a sign of growing importance of compliance and regulation at Andreessen Horowitz.
Romanian Programmer Confesses to Orchestrating BitClub Crypto Scam Worth $722 Million
Silviu Catalin Balaci, a 35-year old Romanian citizen living in Germany, has owned up to helping create BitClub Network, a crypto mining Ponzi scheme that siphoned off investors’ funds worth $722 million.
CFTC Nabs 2 Crypto Fraudsters Involving in a $44M Ponzi Scheme
Two suspected cryptocurrency fraudsters Sam Ikkurty of Portland, Oregon, and Ravishankar Avadhanam of Illinois have been charged by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for illegally soliciting as much as $44 million through Ponzi-like scheme
Binance Labs Invests in AltLayer, KiloEx, Kinza, and Sleepless AI as Part of the MVB Program
Binance Labs invests in AltLayer, KiloEx, Kinza, and Sleepless AI in the MVB Program's sixth season, supporting DeFi, infrastructure, and Web3 gaming.
$30m e-CNY Airdropped in Shenzhen to Boost Consumer Spending
The use of China’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is currently being boosted by the city of Shenzhen which according to reports has airdropped 30 million Digital Yuan (e-CNY) to its residents.
Mercedes Partners with Blockchain Company to Track Carbon Emission in Cobalt Supply Chain
A collaboration between the major car manufacturers, Mercedes Benz and Circular, a Blockchain Startup to carry out a combined program which would be for the purpose of tracing the emissions of carbon in the cobalt supply chain.
Mangofarm Scandal: Solana's Blockchain Ensnared in Alleged Ponzi Scheme Ties
Mangofarm, Solana blockchain, cryptocurrency scam, Banana Miner Ponzi scheme, digital currency security, blockchain fraud, crypto investment caution, Richard Matthew John O’Neill, decentralized finance, investor vigilance
SafeMoon LP Compromised
SafeMoon, a cryptocurrency project endorsed by celebrities, announced its liquidity pool was attacked, but gave no further details. Experts suggest a recent software upgrade may be to blame for the vulnerability that allowed an attacker to remove SafeMoon tokens and sell them at an inflated price.
Brazilian Couple Behind $400M Crypto Ponzi Scheme Nabbed in Argentina
Authorities in Argentina have arrested a Brazilian couple accused of masterminding a $400 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme.
Crypto Token Backed by $25M Diamond Ponzi Scam Flagged by DoJ
The US Department of Justice charged a Florida native with wire fraud, for soliciting investors in a diamond-backed cryptocurrency Ponzi and investment scam.
Australian and Los Angeles Residents Charged in $25 Million AI Crypto-Trading Ponzi Scheme
The DOJ indicts David Gilbert Saffron and Vincent Anthony Mazzotta Jr. for running a $25M AI crypto Ponzi scheme, involving fictitious entities, false promises, and misuse of investor funds.
'Black Swan' Author Slams Bitcoin, Calls It a 'Gimmick' and a Ponzi Scheme
After having previously invested in Bitcoin, Black Swan author Nassim Taleb has changed his mind regarding the leading cryptocurrency. He now thinks Bitcoin resembles a Ponzi scheme and explains why.
Dave Portnoy Calls Bitcoin “A Ponzi Scheme,” but Says He Will be Back for Crypto
Dave Portnoy revealed that he had previously bought $1.25 million worth of Bitcoin, despite thinking the cryptocurrency was just a “just one big Ponzi scheme.”
Crypto Investment Fraud Generates $27 Million, SEC Charges Scammers Posing as Pastors
The US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against three men posing as pastors who defrauded churchgoers in a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme.
CFTC Demands $572 Million in Penalty and Restitution for Bitcoin Scam, Defendant Nowhere to be Found
US CFTC demanded that the founder of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency scam company Control-Finance pay $572 million in penalty and restitution fees for Bitcoin fraud.
China’s Central Bank Digital Currency DCEP to be Operational for Local Government Employees Starting in May
Local government employees in the city of Suzhou will be receiving China’s central bank digital currency, digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) in May, according to a local news outlet. China has been charging full speed with its digital currency development plans shortly after Facebook revealed its Libra stablecoin project.
Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Unveil Cutting-Edge Voice Assistants at CES 2024
Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen showcase advanced voice assistant technology at CES 2024, including Mercedes' 'Dialogue Partner' and Volkswagen's ChatGPT integration, enhancing user experience and safety in vehicles with AI-driven innovations.
US Prosecutors Unseal Indictment of $20 Million Dollar Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme
US prosecutors have recently indicted a group of investment scammers who have orchestrated a cryptocurrency mining fraud following a Ponzi scheme protocol.
Exclusive: LabCFTC's Melissa Netram Talks Advancing Policy and Regulation in FinTech and Blockchain Through Times of Crisis
The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) established LabCFTC as an initiative under the General Counsel’s office in 2017 aimed at promoting FinTech innovation and competition. The office has been very active with over 400 different private meetings held with innovators in the last three years. In addition, LabCFTC has published three primers in the marketplace based on their understanding of smart contracts, artificial intelligence, and crypto-assets.
Blockchain-Powered Donation Tracking Platform Shanzong Seeks to Propel Transparency Amid Coronavirus Scare
With coronavirus having claimed more than 1,800 lives, capturing vital statistics is fundamental in having it curbed. Shanzong, a blockchain-enabled donation tracking platform, has been established in China to boost efficiency and transparency of giving.
Cardano Records Over 100 Smart Contracts Following Alonzo Upgrade
Cardano has records more than 100 smart contracts launched on the blockchain as the Alonzo upgrade goes live.
Cryptopia Users Win New Zealand Ruling Over Locked Cryptocurrency as High Court Declares them "Property"
Clients of Cryptopia exchange will finally get their funds back after a New Zealand high court classifies the rules that they are entitled to their funds.
The Bank of Tanzania to Introduce CBDC, Strengthening Domestic Payment System
The Bank of Tanzania is actively introducing a CBDC to strengthen the domestic payment system.
China to Award DCEP Worth $1.5 Million to Shenzhen Residents to Test Digital Yuan
China’s central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), has teamed up with Shenzhen city to distribute DCEP worth 10 million yuan, approximately $1.5 million to residents.
US SEC Charges “Bitcoiin2Gen” Executives with Defrauding Investors In $11.4 Million Crypto Scheme
Bitcoiin2Gen executives have been charged by the US SEC for allegedly securing millions from investors based on a crypto ICO scam shilled by Steven Seagal.
US CFTC Charges New York Crypto Trader with Fraud Involving Digital Asset Ponzi Scheme
A New York native has been charged with fraud for allegedly scamming $5 million from more than 175 investors using a crypto Ponzi scheme.
Billionaire Chris Kirubi Warns Followers of Bitcoin Scammers Impersonating the Kenyan Tycoon
Dr. Chris Kirubi continues fighting against Bitcoin scams using his name as an endorsement.
Bunzz Raises $4.5M Seed Round to Expand its Smart Contract Hub for DApp Development
Bunzz a web3 development platform for decentralized applications, has completed a $4.5M seed round. Investors included gjmp, DG Daiwa Ventures, Coincheck, and Ceres. Funding will be used to help build out Bunzz’s Smart Contract Hub, which is already used by more than 8,000 dApp developers.
Meat Food Production Giant Oscar Mayer Auctions Disposable Packaging "Hot DOGE" Wiener
An American meat and cold cut production company Oscar Mayer, owned by the American food giant Kraft Heinz, used the eBay e-commerce platform to auction a single package of "Hot Doge Wieners" worth 10,000 Dogecoins.
Cardano CEO Getting a OneCoin Vibe from Federal Reserve's 'Infinite Cash' Statement
In an interview given to CBS's 60 Minutes on March 22, 2020, Neel Kashkari, the President of Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis made a controversial remark on being asked how the state would deal if the situation like 2008 financial crisis would come again due the Coronavirus outbreak.
RyanAir CEO Declares Bitcoin a Ponzi Scheme, Urges Public Boycott
RyanAir CEO Michael O’Leary has declared Bitcoin (BTC) a Ponzi scheme and has urged the boycott of the premier digital currency.
U.S. Senators Reed and Butler Urge SEC to Pause Crypto ETF Approvals Over Investor Risks
Senators Jack Reed and Laphonza Butler have called on the SEC to halt new crypto ETF approvals, highlighting risks for retail investors.
PlusToken Crypto Scam Masterminds to Serve 11 Years in Prison
The ringleaders of the PlusToken Ponzi Scheme have been charged with 11 years of prison after they stole cryptocurrencies worth 14.8 billion yuan.
VanEck Announces Launch of Ethereum Futures ETF (EFUT)
VanEck announces the launch of VanEck Ethereum Strategy ETF (EFUT), targeting Ethereum futures contracts for capital appreciation. EFUT, listed on CBOE, complements VanEck's Bitcoin ETF (XBTF) with a tax-efficient structure.
Breaking: Swift, Chainlink, and Major Banks Achieve Multi-Blockchain Token Transfer
Swift, a global financial messaging service, has conducted experiments to facilitate the transfer of tokenized assets across multiple blockchains. The collaboration with major banks, including ANZ, BNP Paribas, and BNY Mellon, aims to solve interoperability challenges that hinder the growth of tokenized asset markets. Swift's existing infrastructure could serve as a single point of entry for financial institutions, reducing operational challenges and costs.
SEC Sues 11 Individuals involving Forsage Crypto Ponzi Scheme
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against 11 defendants of the popular Forsage crypto pyramid and Ponzi scheme.
Croatia's Top Supermarket Brand Now Accepts Crypto Payments
The largest supermarket company in the European nation of Croatia, Konzum, says it is possible to buy all of its products online and pay with one of 9 supported digital currencies.
Blockchain-Based Invoices Reached $1 Billion USD in China with 10 Million Invoices
Shenzhen’s pilot blockchain technology invoice system has reached a new milestone. The program known as ‘fapiao’ which allows the Chinese government to track purchases and prevent tax evasion, has just issued its 10 millionth invoice.
China-Based Crypto Ponzi Scheme Generates $1 Billion Before Being Flagged
A cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme was reported by Chinese law officials, but not before fraudsters reaped more than $1 billion profit from it.
CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz: US SEC Has No Authority Over Cryptocurrencies
The recent heated debate between the US SEC officials and the CFTC over who should police crypto tokens highlights the difficulty in applying existing regulations to the nascent sector.
Symbolic Capital Pulls $50m to Back Web3.0 Startups
Venture Capital firm, Symbolic Capital has raised the sum of $50 million to bootstrap startups operating within the Web3.0 ecosystem.
ASIC Bans BitConnect National Executive for His Part in Multi-Billion Dollar Crypto Ponzi Scheme
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has officially banned a former National Representative of BitConnect from providing financial services for seven years.
Co-Founder of AirBit Club Sentenced to 12 Years for Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme
Pablo Renato Rodriguez, co-founder of AirBit Club, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for orchestrating a global cryptocurrency pyramid scheme. Co-defendants await sentencing, and the group has been ordered to forfeit approximately $100 million in assets.
Bank of Tanzania Preparing for the Launch of CBDC
The Bank of Tanzania is preparing to start exploring a possible launch of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The central bank termed the move inspired by Nigeria’s central bank launch of its national digital currency.
Elizabeth Warren Wants SEC to Double Down on Crypto Enforcement
Warren wants the SEC to "double down" on crypto enforcement. The U.S. senator said that the previous SEC administration "basically gave the green light" to a cryptocurrency market "full with trash tokens".
BitConnect Founder Charged with Orchestrating Global Crypto Ponzi Scheme Worth $2.4B
A U.S. grand jury indicted Satish Kumbhani, the founder of BitConnect, orchestrating a fraud scheme that siphoned approximately $2.4 billion from investors.
United States DoJ Files to Freeze Assets of OneCoin Money Launderer and Recoup $400 Million
The United States Department of Justice has filed to freeze the assets of OneCoin Money Launderer Mark Scott, and Recoup $400 Million.
Former IcomTech CEO Marco Ochoa Sentenced for Wire Fraud Involving Crypto Ponzi Scheme
Marco Ochoa, ex-CEO of IcomTech, has been sentenced to five years in prison for wire fraud in a crypto Ponzi scheme, with a $914,000 forfeiture and two years of supervised release.
Chinese Police Arrest 27 Kingpins of Plus Token Bitcoin Scam Worth $5.7 Billion
Chinese authorities have arrested all 27 primary criminal suspects involved in the Plus Token Ponzi scheme that defrauded nearly 40 billion Chinese yuan, approximately $5.7 billion from victims.
CEO of IcomTech Pleads Guilty in Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme
Marco Ruiz Ochoa, former CEO of IcomTech, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a large-scale cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme. The company falsely promised high returns on cryptocurrency investments and used promotional tactics to lure victims. Ochoa now faces up to 20 years in prison.
Huawei Secures Deal with One of China's Districts to Accelerate the Application of Blockchain Technology
The Nanshan government of Shenzhen, in the southern Guangdong province in China, has recently announced an agreement with electronics giant Huawei Technologies to establish an information technology center, accelerating the application of technologies including blockchain, artificial intelligence in the district.
China’s Central Bank Partners with Commercial Banks and Telecom Giants to Test Digital Currency in Two Major Cities
New developments of China’s central bank geared towards testing its digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) in the cities of Shenzhen and Suzhou. The People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank is on track to become the first central bank on the globe to issue a national digital currency.
Shenzhen Taxation Bureau to Launch New Blockchain Tax System with Ping An Group
Ping An Insurance and the Shenzhen Taxation Bureau in China signed an agreement to start using blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, and other technologies to develop a management platform for taxation for all types of taxpayers in the Greater Bay Area.
ANZ Bank Pushes Customers Towards Digital, Faces Criticism
ANZ Bank is facing criticism as it discontinues withdrawals and deposits from a number of Australian branches to encourage customers to use digital transactions. Critics suggest this could impact older customers and increase vulnerability to technical issues. This decision highlights the gradual shift towards a cashless society in Australia, with cash payments falling from 59% in 2007 to 27% in 2019.
Bitclub Crypto Ponzi Scheme Suspects Petition Court For Release Citing Coronavirus Fears
Two men accused of operating a crypto Ponzi scheme, the BitClub Network, which defrauded thousands of investors out of $722 million, have requested a New Jersey federal court to grant them a temporary release. The two prisoners have petitioned a New Jersey federal judge as they fear they could contract the coronavirus if they are not freed from the enclosed county jail environment.
Nasdaq Embraces AI to Spearhead Financial Crime Prevention
Nasdaq is investing heavily in AI technology to combat financial crime, strengthening its position as a technology-driven financial services company and addressing sophisticated financial crimes.
Mining Capital Coin CEO Indicted for Masterminding $62M Crypto Ponzi Scheme
Mining Capital Coin CEO Luiz Capuci Jr is indicted Friday for orchestrating a scam that defrauded investors around the world of about $62 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice
New Zealand Police Issues Warning Against “Nasty” Sextortion Blackmail Porn Scam Demanding Bitcoin Ransom
New Zealand police are warning about a new porn blackmail scam that is targeting residents who watch adult content videos in the country. Scammers will take compromising video or photos of the victim while they are watching pornography and later contact them demanding a ransom in Bitcoin to keep the content private.