Market
Two Russians Accused of $1 billion Crypto Laundering by US DOJ
The US Department of Justice (DOJ), in collaboration with State and Treasury agencies and other federal and international law enforcement teams, charged two Russian nationals in an ongoing fight against money laundering operations.
The authorities unsealed documents involving multiple money laundering services enabling cybercriminals and seized websites linked to illicit cryptocurrency exchanges.
US DOJ Cracks $1 Billion Russian Laundering Services
Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, two Russian nationals, have made millions of dollars by facilitating money laundering, helping fuel a global network of cybercriminals. Ivanov, also known by the alias “Taleon,” has been a professional cyber money launderer for nearly two decades.
He has been involved in enabling bank fraud and providing payment-processing support to the notorious Rescator website, which illegally acquires and sells stolen credit and debit card data. Rescator has trafficked stolen payment card information from US financial institutions and personally identifiable information (PII) from American citizens. Ivanov also laundered the proceeds from Rescator and a related carding website, Joker’s Stash, further entrenching his role in cybercrime.
“Over the years, Ivanov’s laundering services and payment systems have catered to cybercrime marketplaces, ransomware groups, and hackers responsible for significant data breaches of major US companies,” read the report.
Read More: Crypto Regulation: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks?
Cryptocurrency blockchain analysis revealed key details about Ivanov’s money laundering business. It showed:
- Transactions totaling approximately $1.15 billion in value between July 12, 2013, and August 10.
- Nearly 32% of all traced Bitcoin (BTC) sent to these addresses originated from other cryptocurrency addresses associated with criminal activity.
- Over $158 million of BTC flowed into Ivanov’s addresses, representing fraud proceeds.
- Over $8.8 million represented proceeds from known ransomware payments.
- Nearly $4.7 million originated from Darknet drug markets.
Timur Shakhmametov, also known as “JokerStash” or “Vega,” faces charges as an accomplice to money laundering, with specific accusations related to selling data from around 40 million payment cards annually. This operation made him a key figure in one of the largest carding markets in history, widely advertised on cybercrime forums.
Authorities eventually shut down Cryptex, an illicit cryptocurrency exchange connected to the domains Cryptex.net and Cryptex.one. The platform bypassed Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, making it a haven for criminals. Investigations revealed that Cryptex processed $1.4 billion in Bitcoin transactions, with 31% tied to criminal activity. Furthermore, 28% of Bitcoin sent from Cryptex was funneled to US-sanctioned entities or Darknet markets.
Authorities Target Firms Aiding Crypto Crime
This development adds to the thread of US authorities combating Russia-related cybercrime, particularly where crypto is used to evade sanctions. In March, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) expanded its sanctions against Russia, targeting individuals and entities within the country’s financial and technology sectors.
In April, the US Treasury also warned of Russia using Tether (USDT) stablecoin to evade sanctions and fund military operations. This culminated in authorities freezing all US assets and property interests of thirteen entities and two individuals.
Russian criminals allegedly use crypto to circumvent Western restrictions, procuring deals and facilitating transactions considered unlawful. Other cited crimes include converting Russian rubles into USDT and paying foreign suppliers, effectively circumventing detection.
Read more: 8 Best Crypto Wallets to Store Tether (USDT)
This report, as enabled by blockchain analytics, shows that the scale of crypto use for illicit financing, including terrorism, is substantial. It fuels the argument on the necessity and scope of stringent crypto regulations.
Some lawmakers advocate aggressive regulatory measures, while others argue for a balanced approach to avoiding stifling innovation in the digital asset sector.
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 Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Base DEX Volume Approaches $3 Billion Amid Growing Adoption
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.
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.
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 Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Is a Drop Below $0.92 Inevitable?
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.
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.
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 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.
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 Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Will It Smash Another ATH?
Bitcoin price started a fresh increase above the $104,000 zone. BTC is consolidating above $105,000 and might aim for a new all-time high.
- Bitcoin started a decent increase above the $102,500 resistance zone.
- The price is trading above $104,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
- There was a break above a connecting bearish trend line with resistance at $104,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
- The pair could start another increase if it stays above the $103,500 support zone.
Bitcoin Price Regains Traction
Bitcoin price started a decent upward move above the $102,500 zone. BTC was able to climb above the $103,500 and $104,000 levels.
The bulls even pushed the price above the $105,000 level. Besides, there was a break above a connecting bearish trend line with resistance at $104,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The pair surpassed the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $109,112 swing high to the $100,114 low.
Bitcoin price is now trading above $104,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $107,000 level. It is close to the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $109,112 swing high to the $100,114 low.
The first key resistance is near the $107,500 level. A clear move above the $107,500 resistance might send the price higher. The next key resistance could be $109,000.
A close above the $109,000 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $110,000 resistance level and a new all-time high. Any more gains might send the price toward the $112,500 level.
Downside Correction In BTC?
If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $107,000 resistance zone, it could start a downside correction. Immediate support on the downside is near the $104,500 level. The first major support is near the $103,500 level.
The next support is now near the $102,800 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $100,500 support in the near term.
Technical indicators:
Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.
Major Support Levels – $104,500, followed by $103,500.
Major Resistance Levels – $107,000 and $108,500.
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