The two Ethereum transactions where senders paid millions of dollars in fees for transactions worth as little as $130 are widely believed to be blackmail. According to research from analytics company PeckShield, the hackers were reportedly blackmailing an unknown exchange by sending out transactions with exorbitant fees in order to circumvent the multi-signature security of…
Ransomware attacks in the U.S. have been on a rise since late 2020, but it is particularly booming in 2021. This year, hackers have hit numerous U.S. companies in large-scale hacks. One such attack on pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline led to temporary fuel supply shortages on the U.S. East Coast. Hackers also targeted an Iowa-based…
In a significant development revealing the ever-looming threat of cybercrime, the US Department of Justice has recently leveled charges against a Russian hacker for his alleged involvement in a nefarious crypto-ransomware conspiracy targeting critical US infrastructure. The gravity of the situation was highlighted as the DOJ, in a press release dated May 16, announced the…
TL;DR Chainalysis says law enforcement has dismantled AudiA6, a crypto laundering network linked to ransomware and darknet activity. The firm says the network processed about 10,333 BTC since 2021, historically valued at roughly $389 million. Authorities arrested two suspected senior administrators in Georgia, while the U.S. is seeking extradition. The case highlights how illicit crypto…
OFAC FirstVPN Sanctions Show Crypto Enforcement Is Moving Up The Infrastructure Stack is a useful reminder that crypto coverage is not only about token prices. Sometimes the more important story is the infrastructure, regulation, security, or product layer sitting underneath the market noise. The immediate point is straightforward: oFAC sanctions linked to FirstVPN and ransomware…