Crime

Vitalik Buterin Asks Court for Leniency in Upcoming Sentencing of Virgil Griffith
The Ethereum co-founder’s letter paints a moving picture of his relationship with Griffith, his long-time friend and former collaborator, whom Buterin credits with shaping both his own world view and the culture of the Ethereum Foundation.

Canadian Police Seize $28M in Bitcoin, Extradite Alleged Affiliate of Ransomware Gang
Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins is accused of carrying out dozens of ransomware attacks in 2020 – many of which were specifically targeted at the health care sector during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accused Bitfinex Launderer Heather Morgan Might Be Offered a Plea Deal
At Morgan’s arraignment on Monday, prosecutors told a federal judge they’re in talks with the defense to find a “resolution” to the criminal case that would see Morgan avoid trial.

IRA Financial 'Swatted' at Time of $36M Crypto Hack, Police Officer Tells Victim
The detail adds another layer of intrigue to the seemingly inexplicable hack of IRA Financial Trust, an institutional partner of the Gemini exchange.

China’s Supreme Court Targets Illegal Fundraising Via Crypto Transactions
The ruling paves the way for violators to be criminally prosecuted, with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $79,000.

Chainalysis Says ‘Criminal Whales' Account for 4% of the Overall Pod
A new report from blockchain research firm Chainalysis says criminal whales held over $25 billion worth of cryptocurrency at the end of 2021.

Russia-Affiliated Addresses Received 74% of Ransomware Revenue Last Year: Chainalysis
Moscow City firms received as much as 48% of their crypto from illicit addresses.

Former Attorney Pleads Guilty to Bitcoin Fraud That Bilked Investors Out of $5M
Philip Reichenthal and his co-conspirators persuaded their victims to send them millions of dollars to buy bitcoin and then just pocketed the money themselves.

New Documents Detail Prosecutors’ Concerns That Bitfinex Hack Laundering Suspects Would Flee
Prosecution also combatted the defense portrayal of Heather Morgan as an unwitting accomplice to her husband’s alleged crimes.

4 Unanswered Questions About the Bitfinex Hack
Even after high-profile arrests, we don't have the full story behind the $4.6 billion crypto heist.

