The United States Attorney General’s Cyber-Digital Task Force recently unveiled the result of its months-long effort to evaluate emerging cryptocurrency-related threats and articulate law enforcement strategies for countering them. The resulting guidance leaves the reader with an impression that its authors have a sound understanding of how the focal asset class works as well as a certain fixation on the ways it can be misused, as some observers contend. In the highly charged atmosphere of the final weeks before the presidential election, with high-profile enforcement actions against the people behind crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX and the U.S. government’s sweeping anti-monopoly …

The founder of major global cryptocurrency exchange OKEx has been reportedly questioned by authorities previous to OKEx suspending cryptocurrency withdrawals. OKEx founder Mingxing Xu, also known as Star Xu, has reportedly been questioned by the police, Chinese news agency Caixin reported today. According to the report, the executive was investigated “at least a week ago” and has also been absent from work for some time. When approached for comment on Xu’s participation in a police inquiry, OKEx told Cointelegraph that the exchange is no longer affiliated with OK Group, where Xu is a senior executive, and therefore was not in …

Major crypto asset exchange OKEx has suspended cryptocurrency withdrawals, announcing that one of the holders of its private keys is “currently cooperating with a public security bureau” concerning ongoing “investigations.” The exchange noted that it has been “out of touch” with the key-holder, preventing the "associated authorization" from being completed. OKEx plans to resume digital asset withdrawals “immediately” once the key-holder “is able to authorize the transaction.” Citing its terms of service, OKEx said it had decided to suspend withdrawals but added that the security of its customers’ assets “will not be affected” by the events. Bitcoin (BTC) has fallen …

Blockchain forensics firm CipherTrace has published comprehensive guidance to assist law enforcement officials in identifying signs of cryptocurrency use when carrying out criminal investigations. The report notes that the U.S. Department of Treasury has identified a “consistent decrease in reported bulk cash seizures by agencies throughout the United States” since 2013, suggesting the trend may indicate increased cryptocurrency adoption among criminals. “The signs of cryptocurrency usage, however, can easily be overlooked by investigators unfamiliar with what to look for.” The report encourages law enforcement to scour confiscated phones and computers for cryptocurrency-related applications, bookmarks and authenticator apps, supplying a list …

Every Friday, Law Decoded delivers analysis on the week’s critical stories in the realms of policy, regulation and law. Editor's note Historians typically date the birth of international policing as we know it today to the 1800s, a response to the explosion in nationalist movements and non-governmental political radicalism in Europe. Just as new linking technologies like the telegraph and the steam engine aided and abetted new networks of political deplorables and any number of Sherlock Holmes plots, the explosion of communications tech of the last quarter-century has brought about new forms of crime. Which is, y’know, something everyone passively …

Former police chief Yuri Zaitsev was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for acting as a bounty hunter for a dark web marketplace. In December 2018, Zaitsev was working as the leader of his unit within the Main Directorate for Drugs Control of the Republic of Khakassia — a law enforcement division analogous to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA. At that time, he initiated contact with the operator of a darknet marketplace, offering to help hunt down a man who had appropriated drugs that were entrusted to him for placement in dead drops. In Russia, unlike …

The operator of Delhi-based cryptocurrency platform Pluto Exchange is accused of duping 43 investors of more than $272,000. A local news outlet Millennium Post reported that the Economic Offence Wing of the Delhi Police has launched a probe against the operators of the Pluto Exchange after 43 investors filed a complaint with the EOW. Bharat Verma, the founder of Pluto Exchange, and others involved in the investment scheme allegedly lured investors by saying they were running crypto trading and cryptocurrency mining operations under the company “F2poolminin.” Joginder Kumar, one of the 43 investors, claimed that he first met the operators …

The drama over alleged fraud involving Bithumb’s senior executives continues as the company’s chairman has reportedly been summoned for interrogation. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is purportedly seeking to question Lee Jung-hoon, chairman of board at Bithumb Korea and Bithumb Holdings, according to a Sept. 18 report by South Korea’s state-run news agency Yonhap. As reported, Lee is allegedly accused of multiple fraud and embezzlement offenses regarding the failed listing of the BXA token. The purported fraud caused investor damages of up to 30 billion won ($25 million), the report notes. The police are also reportedly looking to question Lee …

Six of the 109 individuals recent arrested by Chinese authorities in connection with the $5.8 billion crypto Ponzi PlusToken have been charged. The defendants Chen Shaofeng, Luu Jianghua, Lu Jianghua, Lu Qinghai, Jin Xinghai, Wang Yin, and Zhang Qin were charged by prosecutors in Xiangshui County and Yancheng City on September 7. The authorities said they were “suspected in organizing and leading criminal pyramid schemes.” 109 individuals suspected of involvement with PlusToken were arrested in late July, including 27 persons believed to be the scam’s executives along with 82 “key” promoters. The accused ringleader of the scheme was also arrested …

Bithumb, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea, is reportedly facing more police raids in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has conducted additional search and seizure checks at Bithumb’s headquarters in the Gangnam District on Sept. 7, local publication Seoul Shinmun reports. A police official reportedly said that the latest investigations aim to secure additional evidence related to existing allegations against Lee Jung-hoon, chairman of board at Bithumb Korea and Bithumb Holdings. As reported by Cointelegraph, the executive is purportedly accused of major financial fraud involving the BXA token. Promoted as Bithumb’s native token, BXA token has been never …

Seoul police have reportedly raided Bithumb, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea. According to a report by local publication Seoul Shinmun, an intelligence crime unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has reportedly conducted search and seizure investigations at Bithumb’s office in the Gangnam District on Sept. 2. As reported, the latest checks are purportedly connected with an ongoing police investigation involving Lee Jung Hoon, chairman of board at Bithumb Korea and Bithumb Holdings. The executive has reportedly been under investigation for alleged economic fraud involving the token known as BXA. The token was purportedly promoted as Bithumb’s native …

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is collaborating with law enforcement authorities in Ukraine to take down some large-scale money laundering schemes. Working with the exchange, Ukraine’s cyber police identified and arrested a group of criminals involved in a $42 million ransomware and money laundering operation, Binance told Cointelegraph in a criminal investigation report on Aug. 18. According to the report, the criminal group has been laundering millions of dollars in cryptocurrencies since 2018. A Binance representative said that the suspects were all Ukranian nationals, and were arrested in June 2020. According to Binance, the group was primarily operating in …