US Authorities Arrest Chinese Nationals Allegedly Behind Crypto Scam Network

An indictment unsealed in the Central District of California charges two Chinese nationals, Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang, with leading a scheme to launder at least $73 million tied to an international crypto investment scam, often known as “pig butchering.” Li and Zhang allegedly managed a global network that laundered proceeds from fraudulent crypto investments, … Read more

Court Approves Crypto Lender Genesis’ $3 Billion Payout to Customers

Crypto lender Genesis Global obtained court approval Friday to return approximately $3 billion to its customers as part of its bankruptcy liquidation. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane approved Genesis’ Chapter 11 plan, overruling an objection from its equity owner, Digital Currency Group (DCG), which argued that repayments should be based on January 2023 cryptocurrency values. … Read more

Binance Aids Taiwan in Busting $6M Crypto Money Laundering Ring

Binance’s Financial Crimes Compliance Department recently collaborated with Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on a significant cryptocurrency-assisted money laundering case involving nearly NT$200 million (approximately US$6 million). The criminal operation had been laundering money through virtual assets by creating fake customer records and forged identity data. Law enforcement … Read more

Dolce & Gabbana Sued Over $6,000 NFTs Losing 97% Value

Dolce & Gabbana USA Inc. faces a lawsuit from a customer who claims the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) he bought for $6,000, which included metaverse outfits, lost 97% of their value due to delivery failures by the luxury fashion house. The complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges the NFTs were promoted with various digital, physical, … Read more

Ontario ‘Crypto King’ Faces Major Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) announced on May 15 that two Ontario residents have been charged with offenses under the Criminal Code of Canada as part of Project Swan, a joint investigation by the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) and the OSC. Aiden Pleterski, self-proclaimed “Crypto King,” is charged with fraud over $5,000 and laundering … Read more

China Expands Digital Yuan Pilot: Hong Kong Residents Can Now Set up E-CNY Wallets Locally

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) have advanced the digital yuan (e-CNY) pilot for payments, aiming to increase e-CNY wallet usage in Hong Kong. Residents can now set up and top up wallets via the Faster Payment System (FPS), marking the first global linkage of a faster payment … Read more

Juno Addresses Banking Service Disruption — ‘This Is Outside Our Control’

Juno Finance acknowledges the disruption in banking services and is collaborating with its brokerage and banking service providers, Synapse and Evolve Bank & Trust, to restore full service as soon as possible. Juno is a financial platform that integrates checking and savings accounts with cryptocurrency trading. “Currently, Evolve Bank & Trust has frozen all card … Read more

$25M Sophisticated Ethereum Blockchain Exploit Leads to Arrests in US

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted two brothers for wire fraud and money laundering. They allegedly exploited the Ethereum blockchain to steal $25 million in cryptocurrency within 12 seconds. Using sophisticated techniques, they manipulated transactions and concealed their identities. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. DOJ … Read more

US Lawmakers Urge Treasury Action on Russian Crypto Exchange Sanctions Evasion

U.S. Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI), along with Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen regarding the Moscow-based cryptocurrency exchange Garantex. They expressed concerns that Garantex is reportedly facilitating sanctions evasion and funding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The letter cited reports indicating that $20 billion … Read more

Bitfarms Terminates CEO Geoffrey Morphy, Faces $27 Million Lawsuit

Bitfarms Ltd., a global bitcoin mining company, has announced the immediate termination of Geoffrey Morphy as president and CEO, along with his removal as a director. Following his dismissal, Morphy filed a lawsuit against the company, seeking $27 million in damages for alleged breach of contract and wrongful dismissal. Bitfarms is set to defend against … Read more