Investigation news
Voyager is selling crypto assets through Coinbase, suggests on-chain data
Voyager Digital, the centralized finance (CeFi) platform that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2022, is reportedly selling assets through the Coinbase crypto exchange. On-chain data suggest that Voyager received at least $100 million in USD Coin (USDC) in three days, starting Feb. 24. Since Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, Voyager has sent crypto assets to Coinbase on an almost daily basis, alleges on-chain analyst Lookonchain. The investigation shows that Voyager transferred millions of dollars using a mixed bag of cryptocurrency tokens, including Ether (ETH), Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Chainlink (LINK). 1/ It seems that #Voyager is selling assets through …
Blockchain / Feb. 26, 2023
Crypto exchange Kraken faces probe over possible securities violations: Report
Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is reportedly being probed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over whether it breached rules around the offering of securities. According to a Feb. 8 Bloomberg report, the probe relates to certain offerings that Kraken has made to U.S. clients. A person with knowledge of the matter said the probe is at an advanced stage and could reach a settlement in the coming days. However, at this stage, it is not clear which offerings are being scrutinized by the securities regulator. When asked about the alleged probe, an SEC spokesperson told Cointelegraph, "The SEC …
Bitcoin / Feb. 9, 2023
Silvergate faces DOJ investigation over FTX and Alameda dealings: Report
Crypto bank Silvergate is reportedly being probed by the United States Department of Justice fraud unit over its involvement with the bankrupt FTX exchange and its affiliates. The probe is investigating Silvergate’s hosting of accounts linked to former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried’s businesses, according to “people familiar with the matter” as reported by Bloomberg on Feb. 3. The California-based crypto bank is not accused of any crime, but investigators are attempting to discover how deep the dealings with FTX and Alameda went. Silvergate was heavily impacted by the collapse of FTX in November, reporting a $1 billion loss last quarter. …
Regulation / Feb. 3, 2023
Crypto scammers abuse 'lax' UK company laws to fool victims: Report
The United Kingdom is host to at least 168 companies accused of running fraudulent crypto or foreign exchange (forex) scams according to an independent analysis. A Jan. 29 joint investigation by media firms the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Observer suggested organized crime groups are using the U.K. as their base due to its “lax regulation.” The actual number of U.K.-based crypto or forex companies involved in scams is likely far greater than 168 as the number was calculated by reviewing lists of suspected shell companies and cross-referencing them with reports of fraudulent activity on various websites. Around half …
Regulation / Feb. 1, 2023
Monkey Drainer-linked scammers possibly exposed after an on-chain quarrel
Blockchain security firm CertiK believes to have found the real identity of at least one scammer allegedly linked tothe “Monkey Drainer” phishing scam. Monkey Drainer is the pseudonym for a phishing scammer(s) that uses smart contracts to steal NFTs through a process known as "ice phishing." The individual or persons behind the phishing scam have stolen millions worth of Ether (ETH) via malicious copycat nonfungible token (NFT) minting websites to date. In a Jan. 27 blog, CertiK said it found on-chain messages between two scammers involved in a recent $4.3 million Porsche NFT phishing scam and was able to link …
Blockchain / Jan. 30, 2023
SBF allegedly used FTX money to invest $400M in obscure VC firm
Authorities in the United States might have discovered yet another possible component of Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) cryptocurrency empire. U.S. federal prosecutors have alleged that Bankman-Fried has used money from FTX exchange to invest in the venture capital firm Modulo Capital, according to a report by The New York Times. As previously reported, SBF’s hedge fund and FTX’s sister firm, Alameda Research, invested a total of $400 million in Modulo in 2022, which became one of the largest investments by SBF. The funding has drawn particular attention from regulators due to Modulo — which is a relatively unknown firm — raising …
Regulation / Jan. 26, 2023
Nexo investigation is not political, says Bulgarian prosecutors
Siika Mileva, a spokesperson for Bulgaria’s chief prosecutors, denied political motivations behind the probe against the crypto lending firm Nexo, according to local reports. The comments were made in response to claims that the investigation had a connection to the company's political donations. Almost all cases where a prosecution launches an investigation that affects someone's financial interests result in attacks and accusations, Mileva said, adding that "it has become a national sport to attack the institutions." On Jan. 12, a group of prosecutors, investigators and foreign agents searched the company’s offices in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia. The operation …
Regulation / Jan. 15, 2023
Digital Currency Group under investigation by U.S. authorities: Report
Crypto conglomerate Digital Currency Group, or DCG, are under investigation by the United States Department of Justice's Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to a Bloomberg report. The authorities are digging into internal transfers between DCG and its subsidiary crypto lending firm Genesis Global Capital, noted the report citing people familiar with the matter. Prosecutors have already requested interviews and documents from both the companies, while the SEC is running an early-stage similar inquiry. As of yet, no indictment has been brought against DCG, nor have both U.S. authorities provided any information …
Business / Jan. 8, 2023
Hedge funds subpoenaed by U.S. prosecutors as Binance probe unfolds: Report
United States prosecutors are investigating hedge funds' relationships with cryptocurrency exchange Binance for money-laundering violations. According to anonymous sources cited by the Washington Post, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Western District of Washington in Seattle subpoenaed investment firms to provide records of communications with Binance in the past months. The allegedly subpoenas do not mean prosecutors are bringing charges against the crypto exchange or hedge funds, as authorities are still evaluating evidence and a possible settlement with Binance, according to legal specialists. Binance did not immediately respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment. Binance is under probe in the United …
Regulation / Jan. 7, 2023
SBF prosecutors reportedly dig into donations made to top US Democrats
The prosecutors investigating former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) have reportedly reached out to top members of the Democratic Party demanding information about the political donations made by the entrepreneur. Democratic members from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries were contacted by SBF prosecutors for information to aid their ongoing investigations, according to a New York Times report. The United States attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York sent an email to the Democratic Party elections lawyer Marc Elias, asking for details on donations made by SBF. Similar emails …
Regulation / Dec. 18, 2022
FTT investors' claims to be investigated for securities laws violations
To help out the recently duped investors of FTX Tokens (FTT), shareholder rights litigation firm — Schall Law Firm — has taken up the task of investigating the investors’ claims against FTX for violations of the securities laws. It is estimated that over one million people have lost their life savings owing to the financial fraud committed by FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. To help the investors legally recoup losses, the law firm plans to investigate FTX for issuing misleading statements or failing to disclose crucial information. In an official statement, Schall Law Firm highlighted how various media publications uncovered the …
Regulation / Dec. 11, 2022
US DOJ reportedly investigating FTX CEO for siphoning funds out of the US
While many crypto fraudsters were able to slip through the cracks in the past, the same does not hold for FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). Running parallel to the ongoing scrutiny related to FTX frauds, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly investigating a potential fraud that involves SBF siphoning funds offshore just days before FTX filed for bankruptcy. According to a Bloomberg report, the federal investigation aims to examine SBF’s involvement in improperly transferring FTX funds to the Bahamas as the defunct crypto exchange filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11. The anonymous informant further revealed that DOJ …
Regulation / Dec. 10, 2022