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How USDT Fueled $11 Billion Cyber Scams

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Elliptic researchers highlighted the involvement of Tether’s USDT stablecoin in billions’ worth of illicit trades on the Huione Guarantee marketplace.

Different merchants manage a widespread Chinese-language network with numerous fraudulent app channels.

Huione Guarantee Exposed for Over $11 Billion in Cyber Scam

Huione Guarantee, affiliated with Cambodia’s Huione Group, emerged as a promising marketplace for real estate and cars in 2021. However, beneath a façade of legitimacy, Elliptic researchers discovered fraudulent activity. The platform provided “deposit and escrow services” to ensure transaction security.

“A new investigation from the Elliptic research team sheds light on online marketplace Huione Guarantee. The platform is widely used by scam operators in South East Asia, including those involved in pig butchering scams,” part of the report read.

With payments primarily made in USDT stablecoin, Elliptic researchers discovered over $11 billion in transactions processed since the platform’s debut. Out of these, $3.4 billion accounts for 2024. 

Elliptic researchers analyzed listings on the platform, engaged with sellers, and tracked funds across Tether’s blockchain sent to those sellers’ addresses. This enabled them to identify and label hundreds of cryptocurrency addresses linked to the Huione Guarantee.

Read more: Crypto Scam Projects: How To Spot Fake Tokens

Notably, not all transactions conclusively point to illegal activities. However, overwhelming evidence suggests the platform’s cognizance of illicit businesses on its marketplace, as third-party merchants openly advertise money laundering services.

The services include cross-border transfers and currency conversions to cash, stablecoins, and Chinese payment app transfers.  The merchants also specify different fraud and proceeds handling forms, suggesting their awareness of the risks involved.

“I’m not sure whether Huione Guarantee was originally established with this in mind.  However, it has certainly become primarily a marketplace for online scammers,” Elliptic’s cofounder and chief scientist Tom Robinson said in the report. 

While Huione is not the only marketplace propagating online crypto scams, according to Elliptic, none are this big. The Huione Group is a Cambodian conglomerate business associated with Cambodia’s ruling Hun family,” including Prime Minister Hun Manet. The firm did not immediately respond to BeInCrypto’s request for comment.

Huione and USDT Stablecoin Involvement in Underground Economy

In December 2023, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported the USDT stablecoin’s enabling role in the underground Chinese-linked economy of Cambodia. Among the cited activities was evading capital controls for Chinese nationals by using it as an exchange device to acquire tools to facilitate online scams.

The SCMP cited Huione Pay, a Cambodia-approved financial platform, revealing that it hosted multiple Telegram groups offering exchange services for cryptocurrency assets, including USDT. According to the investigation, the groups provide tools that enable scam operations involving international SIM cards and data on Chinese expat citizens.

Telegram group operators also marketed bank cards to receive money from scam victims. They also advertised services like criminal background checks, company records, and bank statements, accepting USDT for their services.

This is not the first time USDT stablecoin has been used to facilitate money laundering. In January, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted its use as a medium for illicit activities.

Read more: Crypto Social Media Scams: How to Stay Safe

Cambodia has banned cryptocurrency since 2017. In 2022, Binance committed to aiding Cambodia, located in Mainland Southeast Asia, in developing digital asset regulations. Under the terms, Binance rendered its technical expertise and experience in the field to help Cambodia’s Securities and Exchange Regulator (SERC) develop its legal framework for the digital asset market.

These discoveries highlight the need for increased scrutiny and regulation of online marketplaces and social media platforms to prevent the propagation of illicit activities. Tether continues to improve its compliance push, recently freezing funds in addresses featured on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.

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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3 Altcoins to Watch in the First Week of April 2025

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As the crypto market enters Q2 2025, both investors and traders are anticipating a shift from bearish to bullish momentum. This change is essential for altcoins to recover, as many are currently facing challenges in bouncing back. However, growth potential remains for select tokens in the short term.

BeInCrypto has analyzed three altcoins to watch closely as April begins, highlighting the catalysts that could influence their price movements.

THORChain (RUNE)

RUNE’s price is currently at $1.117, hovering just above the $1.110 support level. For a potential rebound, the altcoin needs to reclaim $1.198 as support. Investor sentiment will play a crucial role in whether this upward movement materializes, leading to possible gains for THORChain (RUNE).

THORChain’s 3.4.0 upgrade is scheduled to take place this week, bringing significant improvements to the network. The upgrade could drive positive market sentiment, helping RUNE reclaim $1.198 as support. This momentum may push RUNE towards $1.396, aiding in recovering recent losses and supporting continued price growth.

RUNE Price Analysis.
RUNE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

If the support at $1.110 is broken, RUNE may fall to $1.021, pushing it closer to losing the critical $1.000 level. A failure to maintain support could signal a bearish trend, invalidating the bullish outlook. 

Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET)

FET price saw a 20% decline over the last five days, dropping to $0.452 after losing the support of $0.458. This decline puts the altcoin under pressure. However, the doors for potential recovery are open due to upcoming developments within the network.

The Artificial Superintelligence Alliance network is set for a mainnet upgrade this week, bringing new features to the ASI-1 Mini. This upgrade is expected to act as a catalyst for the price, pushing it toward the key resistance levels of $0.524 and $0.572 to recover recent losses.

FET Price Analysis.
FET Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

If the bearish trend continues, FET could fall further to $0.400, which would invalidate the bullish outlook and lead to extended losses. The price would need to hold above critical support levels to avoid deeper declines.

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum’s price is nearing a 17-month low of $1,745, following a 13.42% drop after failing to break through the $2,141 resistance. This recent price action suggests the altcoin king is struggling to regain momentum. The market conditions remain unfavorable for a quick recovery at this point.

Despite the current market downturn, Ethereum could see some recovery as investors look to capitalize on low prices. A short-term bounceback is possible if ETH successfully flips $1,862 into support, potentially pushing the price above $2,000. This would mark a significant recovery attempt from the recent drop.

ETH Price Analysis.
ETH Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

If bearish conditions continue, Ethereum’s price might fall below $1,745, testing the next support at $1,625. A failure to hold this level would invalidate the bullish outlook and open the door for further declines, extending the recent losses.

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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Top Crypto Airdrops to Watch in the First Week of April

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As traders and investors anticipate the beginning of April and the onset of the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, crypto airdrops present an opportunity to join promising communities while they are still on the ground floor.

This week, three notable crypto airdrops stand out as worth watching.

Walrus

Walrus (WAL), a decentralized storage protocol on the Sui blockchain, launched its mainnet and token generation event (TGE) on March 27. The event coincided with South Korea’s Upbit exchange listing WAL.

The TGE saw Walrus distribute 4% of its 5 billion token supply via an airdrop. Eligible participants, including early Sui ecosystem users and testnet contributors, received Soulbound NFTs redeemable for WAL tokens. As April commences, 6% of Walrus tokens are reserved for future community rewards.

“At the moment 4% of the 10% tokens allocated for the airdrop have been distributed, so Walrus still has tokens to reward users,” Cryptorank.io noted.

WAL powers storage payments, staking, and governance, with listings on exchanges like Crypto.com and MEXC offering prize pools. The project’s airdrop comes after raising $140 million from Andreessen Horowitz, Standard Crypto, Electric Capital, and Comma3 Ventures, among others.

Meanwhile, Walrus’s market cap exceeds $573 million, reflecting strong adoption potential. Data on CoinGecko shows it was trading for $0.45 as of this writing.

Walrus (WAL) Price Performance
Walrus (WAL) Price Performance. Source: CoinGecko

Staking opportunities with validators like Mysten Labs or Nansen enhance rewards, but high commissions (up to 60%) apply. One of Walrus and Sui’s founders recently announced that users could stake WAL tokens to get airdrops. As this could mean airdrops from Walrus and projects from the Sui ecosystem, engaging with Sui dApps and testnets remains key for future allocations.

Nansen

The project has raised up to $88.2 million from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase Ventures, Accel, and Mechanism Capital, among others. Coupled with the fundraiser, Nansen has a valuation of $750 million.

Nansen, a leading blockchain analytics platform, confirmed an airdrop, drawing excitement due to its prominence and past reward patterns. The project launched a staking program and announced a point system in 2025.

“We’re excited to announce that we have acquired Stakewithus (SWU)! SWU is a non-custodial staking service provider with $80m+ staked by 30k+ users & supports 20+ chains You can now analyze data, monitor your portfolio, and stake assets in one place with Nansen,” read the announcement.

Users can stake assets (STRK and TRX), and points are expected to be credited retrospectively. Nansen also mentions the NSG token, so participants will most likely receive an airdrop for points.

Market participants should monitor Nansen’s social channels and partnerships for updates, as airdrops typically reward active users or data contributors.

With no token launched yet, any potential airdrop might tie into a future native token, likely incentivizing early adopters or premium subscribers. Given Nansen’s influence in the crypto space, tracking wallet activity and on-chain data, its airdrop could attract significant attention.

Participants should engage with its tools and stake in supported ecosystems to position themselves for unannounced opportunities.

OG Labs

This modular AI chain combines Layer-1 blockchain with decentralized AI, focusing on scalable Data Availability for AI applications.

The status of OG Labs airdrop stands confirmed, bringing forth an emerging player in the crypto space. This makes it a speculative target for market participants. It boasts up to $325 million in funds raised from investors such as Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, Animoca Brands, and OKX Ventures, among others.

The airdrop is potentially tied to Web3 innovation or NFT ecosystems (given the “OG” moniker). It follows models like Walrus, rewarding early testers or community members.

“There are new activities on the OG test network – we can request test tokens and make swaps,” Cryptorank.io noted.

The OG Labs airdrop requires no investment. Users can engage through OG Labs’ Newton Testnet, which tests-core functionalities like decentralized storage, consensus, and data availability services. Participants must complete at least 20 transactions, stay active for three days, and interact with features like swaps, storage scans, and NFT minting.

“Interact with the OG Labs Testnet and Become Eligible for the Airdrop,” crypto researcher Guatamgg stated.

Additionally, users can boost eligibility by taking Discord roles such as OGurus or OG Role. These activities involve community contributions and verification steps. This airdrop targets active ecosystem participants, aligning with OG Labs’ emphasis on community-driven development.

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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Strategic Move for Trump Family in Crypto

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Energy infrastructure platform Hut 8 Corp has partnered with US President Donald Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., to launch American Bitcoin Corp.

The company is dedicated to industrial-scale Bitcoin mining and developing a strategic reserve.

All You Need to Know about American Bitcoin

American Bitcoin’s leadership team includes Mike Ho as executive chair, Matt Prusak as CEO, and Eric Trump as CSO. The Board of Directors comprises Mike Ho, Asher Genoot (also Hut 8 CEO), Justin Mateen, and Michael Broukhim.

According to the announcement, Hut 8 holds an 80% ownership stake in American Bitcoin. This follows the contribution of its ASIC miners to American Data Centers Inc., a company formed by investors including the Trump brothers.

Subsequently, they renamed and relaunched the entity as American Bitcoin. As a new subsidiary focused on industrial-scale Bitcoin mining, this move aims for an efficiency of 50+ EH/s (exahashes per second). Meanwhile, Hut 8 remains the key infrastructure partner, consolidating financials under its brand.

Eric Trump, co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He also emphasized the synergy between Hut 8’s operational excellence and shared passion for decentralized finance (DeFi) as a foundation for significant future growth.

“…By combining Hut 8’s proven operational excellence in data centers with our shared passion for Bitcoin and decentralized finance, we are poised to strengthen our foundation and drive significant future growth,” an excerpt in the announcement read, citing Eric Trump.

Donald Trump Jr. highlighted their longstanding commitment to Bitcoin, noting their conviction in Bitcoin personally and through their businesses. He reiterated the opportunity presented by mining Bitcoin under favorable economics and the potential for investors to participate in Bitcoin’s growth through this new platform.

Similarly, Genoot described the launch of American Bitcoin as a pivotal evolution in their platform strategy. By establishing a standalone entity for mining operations, Hut 8 aims to align each business segment with its respective cost of capital. Specifically, they would create two focused yet complementary companies.

Meanwhile, this venture is part of the Trump family’s broader engagement in the crypto industry. World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture linked to the Trump family, recently launched USD1. US treasuries, dollars, and cash equivalents back the stablecoin. The venture aims to facilitate secure cross-border transactions for investors and institutions.

Furthermore, reports indicate that the Trump family is discussing acquiring a stake in Binance.US. This is the American arm of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. Given the family’s growing involvement in the sector, such an investment could significantly influence the crypto market.

These initiatives reflect the Trump family’s commitment to positioning the US at the forefront of the crypto industry. It also aligns with President Donald Trump’s ambition to establish the US as a global leader in digital assets.

“While people are worrying about the daily price action, President Trump and Eric Trump are building the infrastructure to take crypto to the next level,” crypto investor Gordon noted.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

BeInCrypto data shows BTC was trading for $82,199 as of this writing. It is down by over 1.13% in the last 24 hours, unmoved by news of American Bitcoin. However, this could change once US markets open.

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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