The government of Bhutan is currently holding over $828 million in bitcoin, according to onchain data by Arkham Intelligence. “Unlike most governments, Bhutan’s BTC does not come from law enforcement asset seizures, but from bitcoin mining operations, which have ramped up dramatically since early 2023,” the crypto intelligence firm explained. Bhutan Revealed as a Major…
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The Youtube channel of India’s Supreme Court was compromised, promoting a scam involving XRP cryptocurrency instead of its usual live hearings. The breach temporarily shut down the channel, but services resumed later that day. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse responded, condemning the exploitation of crypto users. XRP Scam Promoted on Supreme Court of India’s Youtube Channel…
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William Koo Ichioka has been ordered to pay over $36 million after admitting to a forex and digital asset fraud scheme. His scam, which started in 2018, involved falsifying financial documents and misusing investor funds for personal luxuries like cars and jewelry. In addition to financial penalties, Ichioka faces prison time. The Commodity Futures Trading…
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A woman has been sentenced to over eight years in prison after her murder-for-hire plot using bitcoin fell apart. Melody Sasser attempted to use the dark web to hire a hitman to kill an Alabama resident. She paid nearly $10,000 in cryptocurrency and tried to make the murder look like an accident. Authorities discovered incriminating…
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A Nigerian national has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a massive darknet fraud scheme that intended to cause over $6 million in losses, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Using various online aliases, Kaura led a global network selling stolen payment card data, using cryptocurrencies like…
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The U.S. state of Louisiana has announced that residents can now use bitcoin, bitcoin lightning, and USD Coin to pay for state services through private, secure crypto wallets. “By introducing cryptocurrency as a payment option, we’re not just innovating; we’re providing our citizens with flexibility and freedom in interacting with state services,” said Louisiana’s State…
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Hackers have targeted Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with a ransomware attack, demanding 100 bitcoins to buy the data back. Although the airport managed to fend off most of the damage, the attackers encrypted some data and posted stolen files on the dark web. Now, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is involved, and the airport refuses…
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German authorities have dismantled 47 exchange services involved in facilitating anonymous crypto transactions for criminal activities. These platforms bypassed anti-money laundering protocols, enabling cybercriminals to exchange digital currencies without identity verification. The takedown follows a series of other operations targeting major cybercrime networks. With seized user and transaction data, authorities are set to pursue further…
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The Australian Central Bank is focusing on a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) due to its potential economic benefits compared to a retail CBDC. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has launched Project Acacia, a three-year plan to explore wholesale CBDC opportunities. While the RBA and Treasury could still consider a retail CBDC, a…
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New data shows that 134 countries, representing 98% of global GDP, are now exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), with 66 nations advancing to pilot or development stages. Every G20 nation is engaged in CBDC efforts, with notable leaders such as China and the European nations pushing forward. The U.S. remains lagging behind Europe and…
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