Europol’s latest report reveals how criminals are increasingly using cryptocurrencies like stablecoins and Monero for illegal activities.
While Bitcoin remains widely used due to its acceptance and extensive network, law enforcement agencies are actively countering its misuse by freezing suspicious transactions through stablecoin blacklisting.
Monero, favored for its strong privacy features, poses a significant challenge as its encryption makes tracing nearly impossible, unlike Bitcoin’s transparent ledger. This privacy aspect makes Monero a popular choice for dark web transactions.
The dual nature of Monero, used both for privacy-focused legitimate transactions and illicit activities, presents regulatory challenges in balancing privacy rights with crime prevention.
Europol’s report also highlights the persistent threat of cyberattacks on EU citizens and businesses, with criminals employing sophisticated methods like phishing, investment fraud, AI-driven deepfakes, and automated bribery systems.
To combat these issues, Europol recommends enhanced public-private collaboration, improved training for law enforcement in blockchain technology, and partnerships with blockchain analytics firms to better address the evolving landscape of crypto-related crimes.
The notorious hacking group known for its crypto thefts has lost access to nearly $5 million in stablecoins, following actions taken by stablecoin issuers to freeze the funds.
Binance has issued a warning about a malware attack targeting its users, which alters cryptocurrency withdrawal addresses.
Prosecutors have introduced new internal documents from Bithumb in their ongoing case against Lee Sang-joon, the exchange’s former CEO.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO and co-founder of FTX currently serving a prison sentence, has filed an appeal seeking to overturn his fraud conviction, according to court documents submitted on Friday.