Germany has shut down 47 cryptocurrency exchanges, accusing them of enabling cybercriminals to launder money by ignoring anti-money laundering regulations.
Authorities claim these platforms allowed illegal funds to be integrated into the legitimate economy, with users including ransomware operators and black market dealers.
Officials announced the seizure of servers and user data, warning that they intend to trace those involved. However, they admitted that prosecuting many suspects may be difficult, as they are based in countries that offer protection to cybercriminals.
Among the seized platforms was Xchange.cash, which had handled over a million transactions since 2012. Other major exchanges included 60cek.org, Baksman.com, and Prostocash.com.
Germany, once a significant Bitcoin holder, recently sold $3.15 billion worth of Bitcoin, seized from the piracy site Movie2k.to in 2020.
A U.S. court has handed down a 30-year prison sentence to Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, who was found guilty of financing terrorism through cryptocurrency.
A major chapter in crypto’s legal reckoning closed this week as Alex Mashinsky, once a prominent name in digital lending, received a 12-year prison sentence.
Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky is asking for a significantly reduced prison sentence ahead of his May 8 sentencing, with his legal team pushing back hard against the U.S. Department of Justice’s call for a 20-year term.
The legal battle against the creators of Samourai Wallet has taken a sharp turn, as defense attorneys accuse federal prosecutors of suppressing a key legal interpretation from the Treasury Department that could dismantle the core of the government’s case.