Crime
Ransomware Revenue Down As More Victims Refuse to Pay
2022 was an impactful year in the fight against ransomware. Ransomware attackers extorted at least $456.8 million from victims in…
U.S. Authorities Move Against High-Risk Exchange Bitzlato for Providing Money Laundering Services to Ransomware Attackers and Other Russia-based Criminals
Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of Russian national Anatoly Legkodymov for his role as founder and…
2023 Crypto Crime Trends: Illicit Cryptocurrency Volumes Reach All-Time Highs Amid Surge in Sanctions Designations and Hacking
Every year, we publish our estimates of illicit cryptocurrency activity to demonstrate the power of blockchains’ transparency – these kinds…
How 2022’s Biggest Cryptocurrency Sanctions Designations Affected Crypto Crime
Agencies like the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and its equivalents in…
Crypto Crime Has Hit Main Street. Here’s How Local Law Enforcement Can Take Action.
There’s a common misconception that tackling cryptocurrency-based crime is solely in the domain of large national-level law enforcement agencies or elite cybercrime units.
BTC-e Sends $165 Million Worth of Bitcoin to Personal Wallets, Exchanges, and Other Services
Today, BTC-e sent nearly $165 million worth of Bitcoin — representing almost all of the Bitcoin left in the service’s…
Ethereum Merge Scams: How Scammers Took Advantage of The Ethereum Merge to Make Millions
We’re now six weeks past the Merge, as Ethereum underwent its switch from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS) on September…
$30 Million Seized: How the Cryptocurrency Community Is Making It Difficult for North Korean Hackers To Profit
One of the most troubling trends in crypto crime right now is the stunning rise in funds stolen from DeFi…
Mid-year Crypto Crime Update: Illicit Activity Falls With Rest of Market, With Some Notable Exceptions
2022 has been a tumultuous year for cryptocurrency markets, with significant price declines across all currencies in May and June.…
Chainalysis Takes the Stand: How Expert Testimony Helped Convict the Creator of Two Fraudulent ICOs
On July 21, 2022, Ryan Felton pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering. Here’s how Chainalysis testimony helped secure his guilty plea.
Vulnerabilities in Cross-chain Bridge Protocols Emerge as Top Security Risk
Following last night’s exploit of the Nomad Bridge, Chainalysis estimates that $2 billion in cryptocurrency has been stolen across 13…
Blockchain Analysis for National Security and Law Enforcement Agencies: A Primer
Law enforcement, regulatory, and national security agencies need effective crypto investigation tools. In this article, we explain why.
Crypto Mixer Usage Reaches All-time Highs in 2022, With Nation State Actors and Cybercriminals Contributing Significant Volume
Crypto mixers are a go-to tool for cybercriminals on the blockchain. We find that in 2022, crypto addresses tied to…
SSNDOB Shutdown: DOJ Announces Closure of Darknet Market Selling Social Security Numbers and Other Personally Identifiable Information
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the shutdown of SSNDOB, a marketplace that sold personally identifiable information (PII)…
Theft, Money Laundering, and NFT Market Manipulation Underline Importance of Safety and Compliance in Web3
This blog is a preview of our State of Web3 Report. Sign up here to download your copy! Any new technology…