Some of Bitcoin’s Earliest Adopters Find it Difficult to ‘Cash Out’

The price of BTC had increased in value significantly over the years, reaching $19,600 at its highest peak – and the exchange rate rests at $8,500 today. This is a stark contrast to just over a year ago when the digital currency’s value was under $1,000 per coin. Since the fiat value has increased so … Read more

Coincheck Drops Anonymous Monero, Dash, Zcash

Coincheck, the Japanese exchange that lost ~$550 million worth of NEM to hackers, will stop dealing with Monero, Dash and Zcash. The trading platform has recognized the risk posed by these cryptocurrencies which provide high levels of anonymity. Half of the NEM coins stolen in the hack may have been converted already on the darknet, … Read more

British Man in Amsterdam Allegedly Laundered €11.5m in Bitcoin Drug Money

A UK man living in Amsterdam is facing up to five years in prison for allegedly helping people by exchanging fiat cash for bitcoin which was used to buy drugs. He supposedly started by growing cannabis himself but soon found the bitcoin business to be more profitable by itself.   Also Read: US Navy Investigators … Read more

US Navy Investigators Bust Bitcoin Drug Ring at Naval Academy

Despite recent claims that bitcoin is becoming less popular for illicit dealings on the dark web, investigations show that it is still the payment method of choice for many. The most recent example comes from the US Navy, where a few entrepreneurial cadets reportedly used bitcoin to buy drugs which they distributed to their classmates … Read more

Ross Ulbricht Denied Post-Conviction Relief Extension

The man convicted of creating the Silk Road marketplace, Ross Ulbricht, has lost yet another appeal to extend his “post-conviction relief.” Judge Katherine Forrest, the judge who sentenced Ulbricht to a double life sentence in 2015, denied the legal team’s attempt to renew the case even if additional circumstantial evidence is found in the future. … Read more

Darknet Criminals Will Drop Bitcoin in Favor of Litecoin and Dash, Study Says

Bitcoin has been associated with criminal activity for as long as people can remember. That is quite worrisome for many reasons. Even though Bitcoin lacks privacy and anonymity, criminals still flock to this payment option because of its global appeal. According to a new study, however, that situation may come to change very soon. In … Read more

Deep Web Roundup: Dream Adds Monero and Bitcoin Tumbler “Chip Mixer” Launches

The darknet has been quiet of late, which is the way it’s meant to be. No news means no mega busts, honeypots, or mass market shutdowns. Even when it’s out of the spotlight though, the deep web is quietly making news, whether trialling the latest privacy coins or the newest coin mixers that promise to … Read more

Dream Market Puts Finishing Touches on Monero Integration

Darknet marketplaces are making some big changes behind the scenes. With some of the major trading hubs having been shut down by law enforcement agencies last year, there is a growing need for privacy and anonymity. This also means payment solutions such as Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are no longer sufficient. Dream Market, currently the top … Read more

New Research: Laundering of Illicit Funds Less than 1% of Bitcoin Transactions

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center of Sanctions and Illicit Finance in conjunction with blockchain analytics company, Elliptic, has published a study seeking to track the circulations of illicit funds within the bitcoin economy from 2013 to 2016. The research concludes that the share of funds of illicit origin comprises less than one percent … Read more