Everything web3, crypto, defi, degen
In brief Federal prosecutors have filed a complaint to forfeit USDT funds traced to a spoofed trading platform. Victims were recruited through text messages and directed into fake investment accounts. Civil forfeiture is being used as a tool to disrupt scams and recover funds for victims, Decrypt was told. Federal prosecutors in Albany have filed…
In brief The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 19 entities across Burma and Cambodia that it says scammed Americans out of $10 billion in 2024. The action targets networks using trafficked workers forced to conduct “pig butchering” scams through fake investment platforms and romance schemes. Networks often “rebrand” when sanctioned, but sanctions “disrupt scammers’ easiest routes,”…
In brief Shengsheng He was sentenced to 51 months for laundering nearly $37M stolen in a crypto investment scam. The funds were moved through a Bahamas-based shell company, converted to crypto, and sent to scammer wallets. The case is part of a wider DOJ crackdown on global crypto fraud and online money laundering. Shengsheng He,…
In brief Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb accused ATM operator Athena Bitcoin of ignoring scams targeting elderly residents. The firm faces two counts of violating the Consumer Protection Procedures Act through deceptive and unfair trade practices. The firm operates 4,100 Bitcoin ATMs in five countries. Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb unveiled…
In brief Public code libraries are being poisoned with malware that is being downloaded via Ethereum smart contracts. Software security firm ReversingLabs identified a sophisticated network of malicious packages using this method with fake activity to give a sense of legitimacy. Binance chief security officer, Jimmy Su, told Decrypt in August that package poisoning like…
In brief GK8 researchers have discovered threat actors recruiting professional voice impersonators on underground forums to target U.S. crypto executives. The personalized “vishing” campaigns make operatives up to $20,000 monthly. Attackers possess curated datasets of executive personal information and use deepfake technology, voice changers, and sophisticated infrastructure to bypass traditional security measures. Cybercriminals are recruiting…
In brief Kevin Spacey has returned to directing with “Holiguards Saga—The Portal of Force,” a sci-fi film written by Russian entrepreneur Vladimir “Lado” Okhotnikov. Okhotnikov, co-founder of Ethereum DeFi app Forsage, faces U.S. fraud charges tied to an alleged $300 million crypto Ponzi scheme. The film, which is inspired by Okhotnikov’s libertarian principles, is the…
In brief A Binance Smart Chain user fell victim to a phishing scam and lost $13.5 million worth of tokens on Tuesday. Early reports suggested that BNB lending platform Venus Protocol had been hacked, but blockchain security firms subsequently confirmed that this was not the case. Venus Protocol and security firm PeckShield are in contact…
In brief A 35-year-old former crypto trader was allegedly kidnapped and tortured in Paris, with captors demanding €10,000 ransom before releasing him with a swollen face. France leads Europe with 10 crypto-related physical attacks in 2025, part of what experts call a hidden epidemic affecting the global crypto community. Cybersecurity experts warn the incidents represent…
In brief Solana’s daily DEX trader count has fallen to 900,000, down from 4.8 million earlier this year, Dune data shows. Retail traders are retreating amid meme coin scams, Instagram hijackings, and Ethereum’s rising dominance. Solana’s DEX volume share rebounded to 27% in August, though some warn its meme coin reliance may hinder growth. Retail…
