AUSTRAC releases 2 new guides to help spot illicit crypto use
AUSTRAC also urged financial institutions from debanking clients who may be engaged in suspicious account activity, as a mistake could be costly to “Australia’s economy.”
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Monero crypto of choice as ransomware ‘double extortion’ attacks increase 500%
A surge in ransomware in 2021 has also resulted in a surge in Monero usage as the method of payment as more criminal groups want only XMR.
Agent Smith says Secret Service seized $102M in crypto in 254 cases since 2015
The U.S. Secret Service says the immutable and transparent aspect of the blockchain ledger allows the agency to track transactions made by criminals easier than cash in some cases.
FBI Issues Alert Concerning Malicious State-Sponsored North Korean Hackers Targeting Crypto Firms
On April 18, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Treasury Department, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) report concerning malicious North…
OFAC Update Claims Ronin Hack Is Tethered to North Korea’s Hacker Syndicate Lazarus Group
According to the U.S. Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the recent Ronin bridge hack may have been tied to the North Korean hacker syndicate called Lazarus…
Skewed data: How could a new US law boost blockchain analysis?
Infrastructure firms will now have to report within 24 hours if they make a ransomware payment. “This surely will be a game changer.”
Canadian Police Seize Bitcoin Worth $28 Million From Former Government Employee in Ransomware Case
Canada’s police have seized bitcoin worth more than $28 million from a former government employee who has been extradited to the U.S. to “face charges for dozens of ransomware attacks…
Chainalysis Study Shows ‘Criminal Whales’ Hold $25B in Digital Assets, Entities Represent 3.7% of All Crypto Whales
According to research published by Chainalysis, criminal entities hold more than $25 billion in cryptocurrencies. The blockchain intelligence firm’s study shows that there was a significant increase in crypto balances…
Report Attributes Large Share of Global Crypto Crime to Russia, Moscow City
The growing popularity of cryptocurrencies has placed Russia among the leaders in adoption. But while it is yet to reach the top of the ranking, the country already has a…
Ransomware crypto payments hit at least $602M last year: Chainalysis
The total amount of value extracted through ransomware payments in 2021 is expected to rise above 2020 levels once all the data is sorted through.