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Crypto Laundering Ring Tied to Drug Trade, Espionage

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An international investigation has dismantled a Russian money-laundering network linked to organized crime and sanctioned elites.

Led by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the operation involved US and European authorities. It resulted in 84 arrests and the seizure of over £20 million ( ~$25.4 million) in cash and cryptocurrencies.

Authorities Destabilise Money Laundering Network

Two Moscow-based exchanges, Smart Group and TGR Group, were key to the crypto laundering network. These platforms converted illicit cash into untraceable digital assets, enabling crimes like drug trafficking and espionage financing. Authorities revealed that even state operations used these exchanges to evade international sanctions.

“For the first time, we have been able to map out a link between Russian elites, crypto-rich cyber criminals, and drugs gangs on the streets of the UK. The thread that tied them together – the combined force of Smart and TGR – was invisible until now,” said Rob Jones, Director General of Operations at the National Crime Agency.

Ekaterina Zhdanova, the head of Smart Group, was arrested in France, while George Rossi of TGR Group remains at large. They have both since been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for facilitating sanctions evasion and committing money laundering. The network operated in over 30 countries, exploiting cryptocurrency anonymity to obscure illicit funds.

Another branch of the investigation exposed that they were also working with a cash courier network operated by Semen Kuksov and Andrii Dzektsa. Their couriers laundered over £12 million ( ~$15.26 million) in the UK in just two-and-a-half months and managed similar operations across Europe.

Kuksov, linked to high-turnover cryptocurrency wallets, and Dzektsa received prison sentences of five years and a half, and five years, respectively. A courier, Igor Logvinov, was arrested in Ireland and sentenced to three years.

Emergence of Russian Networks

This crackdown has put significant financial pressure on these networks since. Russian-speaking laundering groups operating in London reportedly charged high commission rates by mid-2024, reflecting the increasing difficulty of working in the city.

“The networks disrupted by Operation Destabilise were hidden in plain sight, operating from within our communities, moving vast sums of money linked to the drugs trade and serious violence on our streets,” said Nik Adams, T/Assistant Commissioner of City of London Police and NPCC lead for economic crime.

However, this case is not an isolated one. In September, the US Justice Department charged Russian nationals Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov with laundering over $1 billion via illicit cryptocurrency platforms. These exchanges enabled cybercrime and allowed sanctioned entities to bypass restrictions. On December 4, the US Treasury also sanctioned the TGR Group for aiding Russian elites.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has called for stricter oversight of virtual assets. Updated recommendations call for regulating virtual asset providers to combat financial crime effectively. Meanwhile, the success of the NCA’s operation highlights growing international collaboration against crypto-enabled money laundering.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Dogecoin Holding Time and Whale Activity Spikes

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Dogecoin (DOGE), a leading meme coin, is signaling a potential breakout from its narrow trading range.

If this momentum continues, it could reclaim its multi-year high of $0.48, fueled by extended holding periods and increased accumulation by large holders.

Dogecoin Investors Reduce Distribution

The on-chain assessment of DOGE’s performance has revealed a significant spike in the holding time of all its coins transacted in the past seven days. According to IntoTheBlock, this has climbed by 302% during the review period. 

The holding time of an asset’s transacted coins represents the average duration tokens are kept in wallets before being sold or transferred. 

Longer holding periods like this reduce selling pressure in the DOGE market. This reflects stronger investor conviction, as investors choose to keep their coins rather than sell them. 

Dogecoin Holding Time
Dogecoin Holding Time. Source: IntoTheBlock

In addition to reducing selling activity, DOGE whales have increased their holdings over the past week. This is reflected by the 112% uptick in its large holders’ netflow during that period.

An asset’s large holders’ netflow metric tracks the movement of coins into and out of wallets controlled by whales or institutional investors. When this metric spikes, it suggests that these large holders are accumulating more of the asset, signaling increased confidence in its future price movement.

Dogecoin Large Holders Netflow
Dogecoin Large Holders Netflow. Source: IntoTheBlock

DOGE Price Prediction: Bullish Run Could Continue

If this bullish momentum is maintained, DOGE will extend its weekly 3% spike. As buying pressure strengthens, the meme coin could revisit its four-year high of $0.48.

Dogecoin Price Analysis
Dogecoin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, this bullish outlook will be invalidated if accumulation stalls and selling activity recommences. In that scenario, DOGE’s price could slip to $0.29.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Base DEX Volume Approaches $3 Billion Amid Growing Adoption

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Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 (L2) blockchain solution, has reached new heights, setting an all-time high daily decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume near $3 billion.

This milestone reflects Base’s growing prominence in the L2 space and its role in scaling on-chain transactions for Coinbase users.

Base Hits New Milestone in DEX Volume

Blockchain analyst Dan Smith highlighted Base L2’s record-breaking volume of $2.9 billion, including $1.3 billion in ETH-USD trading, which also hit an all-time high. Other trading pairs, such as ETH-cbBTC and BTC-USD, were close to breaking their own records.

Base DEX Volume By Pair Type
Base DEX Volume By Pair Type. Source: Blockworks Research

The $2.9 billion DEX volume reflects Base’s growing appeal among traders, particularly in ETH-USD pairs, which benefited from recent price volatility. Alexander, another blockchain enthusiast, noted that this milestone marked the first time Base nearly tagged $3 billion in daily volume, alluding to the development as evidence of L2’s growing adoption.

AerodromeFi, a liquidity-focused decentralized protocol on Base, also recorded an all-time high of $1.68 billion in volume, further emphasizing the ecosystem’s momentum.

“This is the first time Base nearly passed $3 billion and AerodromeFi set a new ATH of $1.68 billion in volume,” Alexander commented.

Base’s success is particularly notable because it operates without a native token. Coinbase explicitly ruled out launching a token for Base, prioritizing ecosystem growth and user adoption instead. This approach has likely contributed to its traction by focusing on utility and reducing speculative risks that could deter long-term users.

“There are no plans for a Base network token. We are focused on building, and we want to solve real problems that let you build better,” Base lead developer Jesse Pollak stated recently.

Consistent Growth in Transactions and TVL

The recent achievement follows Base’s earlier milestones, including reaching one billion transactions two months ago and surpassing six million daily transactions in October. More closely, the network recently outpaced Ethereum in user growth amid growing crypto markets.

Additionally, Base’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has seen consistent growth, indicating increased user participation, asset inflows, and liquidity within its ecosystem. A rising TVL signals greater confidence in the platform, fostering a stronger and more sustainable DeFi environment.

Base TVL and DEX Volume
Base TVL and DEX Volume. Source: DefiLlama

Despite its impressive growth, Base has faced some criticism. The network was accused of copying aspects of an NFT project, sparking concerns over originality and intellectual property. While this controversy did not deter adoption, it highlights the challenges of rapid innovation in the competitive blockchain space.

Base’s trajectory positions it as a serious contender in the L2 space, competing with established players like Arbitrum (ARB) and Optimism (OP). Its emphasis on utility, combined with rising user participation and liquidity, paints a promising picture for its future.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Is a Drop Below $0.92 Inevitable?

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Cardano’s recent sideways price action has led to a surge in demand for short positions among futures traders.

As the coin’s momentum slows, traders are increasingly betting on a price decline, signaling a bearish sentiment toward ADA.

Cardano Traders Bet on a Price Decline

According to Coinglass, ADA’s Long/Short Ratio is at a monthly low of 0.82, indicating a high demand for short positions.

An asset’s Long/Short Ratio compares the number of its long (buy) positions to short (sell) positions in a market. As with ADA, when the ratio is below one, more traders are betting on the price falling (shorting) rather than rising. If short sellers continue to dominate, this can increase the downward pressure on the asset’s price.

ADA Long/Short Ratio
ADA Long/Short Ratio. Source: Coinglass

Additionally, ADA’s Weighted Sentiment remains negative, currently standing at -0.074, reinforcing the bearish outlook for the altcoin.

Weighted Sentiment gauges the overall market bias by analyzing the volume and tone of social media mentions. A negative value signals growing skepticism among investors, often leading to reduced trading activity and downward pressure on the asset’s price.

ADA Weighted Sentiment.
ADA Weighted Sentiment. Source: Santiment

Notably, ADA whales have reduced their trading activity over the past week, with the coin’s large holders’ netflow dropping by 90.29%, according to IntoTheBlock.

Large holders, defined as addresses holding more than 0.1% of an asset’s circulating supply, play a significant role in market movements. A decline in their netflow indicates reduced buying activity, adding to the downward pressure on ADA’s price.

ADA Large Holders Netflow.
ADA Large Holders Netflow. Source: IntoTheBlock

ADA Price Prediction: Recovery to $1 or Decline to $0.80?

ADA is currently trading at $0.98, hovering just above its support level of $0.90. If bearish pressure intensifies, the price may test this support. A failure to hold at $0.90 could see ADA’s decline extend further, potentially dropping to $0.80.

ADA Price Analysis.
ADA Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Conversely, if buying activity resurges, ADA’s price could stabilize above the $1 mark.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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