ChainCatcher message, Slow Fog Yu Xian posted on platform X stating: "Although there is currently no clear evidence, based on the methods used for Safe multi-signature and the current money laundering techniques, it resembles North Korean hackers. North Korean hackers, if I have wronged you, please correct me, and I will apologize..."

According to ChainCatcher news reported by CoinDesk, Hitachi and 12 Japanese companies related to digital asset trading announced that they will begin an empirical experiment in February 2025 aimed at improving the effectiveness of anti-money laundering (AML) measures in the trading of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, NFTs, and other digital assets.In the experiment, information related to money laundering collected and analyzed separately by each company will be shared on a dedicated platform provided by Hitachi. The analysis results will be fed back to each company and used for AML operations in domestic blockchain transactions. This approach aims to verify the actual effects of improved AML accuracy and reduced costs. Participating companies include NTT Digital, Optage, Crypto Garage, JPYC, Chainalysis Japan, Digital Platformer, NEC, Nomura Holdings, Bitbank, finoject, Hokuriku Bank, and Laser Digital Japan.Currently, digital asset trading companies are responding to regulations individually, facing challenges such as high compliance costs and a shortage of AML professionals. At the same time, it is expected that strengthened regulations in the future will bring more challenges. This experiment aims to address these issues through the sharing of systems, talent, and information. The experiment period is from February to April 2025.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Du Xueyi, director of the Economic Crime Prosecution Office of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, stated during a guest appearance on the Supreme Procuratorate's director interview event on February 13 that the current situation of telecom network fraud crimes is still severe and complex, with a high incidence.First, the cross-border and monopolistic nature of fraud groups has emerged, with criminals setting up "industrial parks" and "technology parks" abroad, managing and controlling through means such as providing guarantees and armed protection, taking a cut or charging fees to obtain illicit funds, forming large criminal organizations.Second, the methods of fraud are increasingly diverse and complex, with combinations such as "pig butchering + false investment," "gambling fraud," and "fraud and extortion," which are more deceptive and have led to serious violent crimes such as intentional injury.Third, the modules of black industry crimes are becoming more stable, with criminal tools and software being simple and easy to use, resulting in a broader population being drawn into criminal activities. Fourth, the channels for funds are intertwined and concealed, with virtual currency "money laundering" becoming a mainstream method, helping criminals to transfer fraudulent funds in "small amounts and multiple transactions," making it difficult to trace back.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, the new president of the Central Bank of Brazil, Gabriel Galipolo, stated that over 90% of cryptocurrency usage in the country involves stablecoin transactions. The central bank's analysis found that stablecoins are primarily used for cross-border payments and pose risks of tax evasion and money laundering.Galipolo pointed out that the central bank initially believed the popularity of stablecoins was due to their convenience for the public to hold dollars. However, after further investigation, it was found that a significant amount of stablecoin transactions were related to cross-border shopping, and the transaction methods were opaque, potentially being used to evade taxes or for money laundering activities. He also criticized some citizens' pursuit of privacy, suggesting that this is often associated with illegal activities.Galipolo revealed that the Central Bank of Brazil proposed new regulations last December, aiming to link the regulation of stablecoins to foreign currencies, which may prohibit individuals from holding stablecoins. If this regulation is ultimately passed, it will restrict Brazilian users from participating in decentralized finance (DeFi) activities, as most DeFi platforms require users to manage their own funds.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jiangxi Daily, recently, the Criminal Investigation Team of the Yongfeng County Public Security Bureau in Jiangxi Province, in conjunction with the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Detachment, successfully dismantled a money laundering gang that used virtual currency for "electric fraud scoring."Since late January this year, the suspects Liang Mouyong, Zeng Mou, and Zhang Mouyong formed a "electric fraud scoring" team for profit, gradually recruiting others and developing a network. Liang Mouyong was responsible for using "paper**" overseas chat software to contact fraudsters for orders, while Zeng Mou and Zhang Mouyong were responsible for finding card farmers, collecting more than 10 bank accounts through borrowing and inducement, which were used to receive illegal funds. After the illegal funds were received, they were converted into virtual currency to achieve the purpose of money laundering. From January 24 to February 3, the gang transferred over 100,000 yuan.Currently, Liang Mouyong, Zeng Mou, and 6 others have been criminally detained by the public security organs according to the law, while Wen Moubo and Gao Moubing have been administratively punished by the public security organs according to the law. The case is still under further investigation.

ChainCatcher news, according to Caixin reports, Hao Gang, the former deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Supervision, was sentenced to 11 years in the first instance. It is reported that Hao Gang was involved in Bitcoin money laundering and had assisted executives of a leading Bitcoin mining company in lifting border controls, with the amount of bribes possibly reaching tens of millions. Hao Gang previously served as the director of the Financial Risk Management Department of the Beijing Financial Bureau and became a member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy director of the Beijing Financial Bureau in August 2019, overseeing the risk line, until he was investigated in April 2023 for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

ChainCatcher news, according to Caixin reports, former deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Supervision and Administration, Hao Gang, was sentenced to 11 years in the first instance.Hao Gang was involved in Bitcoin money laundering and had assisted executives of a leading Bitcoin mining company in lifting travel restrictions, with the amount of bribes possibly reaching tens of millions. Hao Gang previously served as the director of the Financial Risk Management Department of the Beijing Financial Bureau and became a member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy director of the Beijing Financial Bureau in August 2019, overseeing the risk sector, until he was investigated in April 2023 for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

ChainCatcher News: A U.S. judge has sentenced the founder of a Canadian crypto payment app to an additional three and a half years in prison for attempting to conceal 450 bitcoins (currently worth over $43.5 million) that were ordered to be forfeited following his conviction on money laundering charges.U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich announced that Firoz Patel, the founder of Payza, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to obstructing official proceedings in September.It is reported that Patel was sentenced to three years in prison in 2020 for operating Payza and was ordered to serve two years of supervised release. Prosecutors stated that Payza processed crypto payments in the U.S. without authorization and provided services to money launderers, multi-level marketers, Ponzi scheme operators, and pyramid scheme fraudsters.

ChainCatcher news, according to Reuters, French investigators have launched a judicial investigation into money laundering, tax fraud, drug trafficking, and other allegations against the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. No further details have been disclosed yet, and Binance has not responded to this.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the European judicial organization recently announced the successful dismantling of a multinational money laundering gang that used cryptocurrency to transfer profits among criminal organizations. Investigations revealed that the gang had at least 52 members spread across Spain and Cyprus, conducting up to 6 money laundering transactions per week. In the operation, 23 suspects were arrested, $28 million worth of cryptocurrency was frozen, and approximately $8 million in cash was seized across various locations in Africa.It is reported that the case began in 2023 when Spanish border officials discovered a large amount of funds being transported to Cyprus, with the total amount involved exceeding $100 million. The gang transported cash via commercial flights and public transport, maintaining connections with numerous commercial companies worldwide.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Spanish law enforcement has collaborated with blockchain companies Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs to freeze $26.4 million worth of cryptocurrency related to a pan-European money laundering operation.Reportedly, Tron’s security measures have reduced the volume of illegal transactions on its blockchain by $6 billion. Additionally, TRM Labs disclosed that 49% of illegal activities on the Tron chain are related to sanctioned entities, while 32% are associated with blacklisted funds.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Post, on October 16, 2024, two enthusiastic passengers discovered that a fellow passenger was behaving suspiciously on the train and immediately reported it to the train police. The passengers claimed that the man sitting next to them was chatting using a certain app, with content related to virtual currency trading. The railway police subsequently seized over 560,000 yuan in cash from his luggage. Upon inspecting Zeng's phone, it was found that he was contacting others to resell virtual currency at the time of the investigation.This is a case of using a ride-hailing platform to deliver cash for fraud, and then using virtual currency for money laundering. Currently, the case has been handed over to the Gansu police, and a local victim, Gao, has retrieved over 100,000 yuan in cash related to the fraud. The investigation is ongoing.

ChainCatcher news, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Indian national Anurag Pramod Murarka has been sentenced to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The 30-year-old Murarka is an international virtual currency vendor operating under the aliases "elonmuskwhm" and "la2nyc." From April 2021 to September 29, 2023, Murarka promoted his money laundering services on dark web markets.Customers negotiated exchange rates with him via encrypted messages and then sent cryptocurrency to a designated address. Murarka subsequently arranged for cash to be delivered to employees in the U.S. through Indian hawala operations, who then concealed the cash in books or envelopes to send back to the customers.Murarka charged service fees and used part of the funds to bribe employees. He was aware that many of his customers were involved in criminal activities such as computer hacking and drug trafficking, facilitating money laundering exceeding $20 million for these criminal activities.

ChainCatcher news, the Chengdu court released the top ten typical cases for 2024, which disclosed a fundraising fraud and money laundering case involving the "GUCS" virtual currency and the associated software "Wa11et Pro" APP. The defendants, including Wang, vigorously promoted the economic value and investment prospects of GUCS coin in Chengdu, Deyang, Meishan, and other places, developing downlines in a pyramid scheme manner, resulting in losses of over 1.7 billion yuan for more than 29,000 fundraising participants. Wang was sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life, and ordered to forfeit all personal property.In addition, the Chengdu court also disclosed a case involving a Singapore company suing a Sichuan real estate company over a "mining machine" sales contract dispute, ruling that the Sichuan real estate company must refund the Singapore company the already paid amount of 836,000 USD for the goods, along with shipping and insurance fees of 22,534 USD, while dismissing other claims from the Singapore company.

According to ChainCatcher news reported by The Block, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia has indicted three Russian citizens for crimes related to operating two cryptocurrency mixers. According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the defendants Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov are accused of running two mixing companies named Blender.io and Sinbad.io. They are charged with conspiracy to launder money and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.In May 2022, the U.S. discovered that North Korean hackers used Blender to launder $20.5 million from the $600 million Axie Infinity hack, leading to sanctions against Blender. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic pointed out in 2023 that Sinbad is likely a rebranded version of Blender, operated by the same organization. Blender maintained a "no-logs policy" and deleted user transaction details.The company operated from 2018 until 2022, with its successor Sinbad emerging a few months after Blender's shutdown. On November 27, 2023, law enforcement took action to shut down Sinbad. If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison for money laundering and up to 5 years for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024. Tarasov remains at large.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, cryptocurrency rapper Heather Morgan (stage name Razzlekhan) released a new music video titled "Razzlekhan vs. The United States" before her impending imprisonment, in which she appears in a provocative manner, mocking capitalism and the American judicial system.Her husband Ilya "Dutch" Lichtenstein is an accomplice in the Bitfinex hacking case. Morgan stated that her music is created to inspire those who feel out of place.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon has been hit with a new charge: conspiracy to commit money laundering. This new charge was added in the superseding indictment unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on January 2. The indictment states that Do Kwon conspired with others, knowing that transactions exceeding $10,000 involved illegal proceeds, yet still facilitated these financial transactions.Previously, Kwon had been charged with eight felonies for his role in the collapse of the Terra ecosystem in 2022 and was arrested in Montenegro in 2023 for forging travel documents. After a dispute over extradition between the U.S. and South Korea, Kwon was transferred to the U.S. in December 2024. Currently, Kwon pleaded not guilty to all charges during his court appearance on January 2 and agreed to be detained. It remains uncertain whether a plea agreement will be reached or if he will enter a criminal trial.This case bears similarities to that of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who faced additional charges after extradition and was ultimately sentenced to 25 years in prison.