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Assessing Terrorism Financing On-chain is Crucial and Complex

The use of cryptocurrency by terrorist organizations represents a small share of illicit transactions in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, but it…

Crime

International Agencies Sanction Russian National Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, Leader of Cybercrime Group LockBit, for Developing and Distributing Ransomware

On May 7, 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russian national…

Crime

Examining the Impact of Ransomware Disruptions: Qakbot, LockBit, and BlackCat

A historic surge of ransomware incidents and payment totals in 2023 was not without resistance, as significant actions were taken…

Crime

OFAC and Department of State Sanction Nearly 300 Individuals and Entities Involved in Russia’s War Machine, One Known to Have Accepted Crypto

On May 1, 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department…

Crime

Case Study: Tracking On-Chain Activities of Suspected FTC Impersonators

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a press release, warning consumers of scammers impersonating FTC staff members in attempts…

Crime

London’s Metropolitan Police Lead Disruption of Phishing-as-a-Service Provider LabHost

On April 17, 2024, London’s Metropolitan Police announced the disruption of LabHost, a notorious phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) provider that enabled cybercriminals…

Crime

Intellectual Property Infringement: Crypto Used in Sales for Illicit Streaming Services and Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals

As with all new technologies, malicious actors have found ways to exploit cryptocurrency, despite its transparency and traceability. These actors…

Crime

Darknet Market Revenues Rise In 2023 As Markets Develop Role Specialization

Darknet markets were one of two categories of crypto crime that saw revenues rise in 2023. In total, darknet markets…

Crime

OFAC and OFSI Sanction Social Media News Outlet Gaza Now for Hamas Fundraising in Wake of October 7 Attacks [Updated 4/1/24]

Update, 4/1/24: NBCTF issues seizure order for Gaza Now addresses, Tether freezes funds Today, Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror…

Crime

OFAC Sanctions Russia-based Blockchain Companies, Including Netex24 and Bitpapa, for Facilitating Sanctions Evasion

On March 25, 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned twelve entities…

Crime

OFAC Sanctions Russian Nationals Ilya Andreevich Gambashidze and Nikolai Aleksandrovich Tupikin for Facilitating Disinformation on Behalf of the Government of Russia, Funds Frozen by Tether

On March 20, 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russian nationals…

Crime

The On-chain Footprint of Southeast Asia’s ‘Pig Butchering’ Compounds: Human Trafficking, Ransoms, and Hundreds of Millions Scammed

Romance scams, also known as “pig butchering scams” for the way bad actors say they “fatten up” their victims to…

Crime

U.S. and U.K. Disrupt Lockbit Ransomware Group and Indict Two Russian Nationals While OFAC Levies Sanctions

On February 20, 2024, the U.K.’s National Crime Agency (NCA), alongside the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), announced the disruption of…

Crime

Money Laundering Activity Spread Across More Service Deposit Addresses in 2023, Plus New Tactics from Lazarus Group

The goal of money laundering is to obscure the criminal origins of funds so that they can be accessed and…

Crime

Ransomware Payments Exceed $1 Billion in 2023, Hitting Record High After 2022 Decline

In 2023, ransomware actors intensified their operations, targeting high-profile institutions and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and government agencies. Major…