The post North Korean Lazarus Group Targets LinkedIn In yet Another Crypto-malware Campaign appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Lazarus, the world-famous North Korean hacker group, has brought their cyber espionage to cryptocurrency firms with their attempt to attack through sophisticated malware on Linkedin. This fact came into the open after an alert from SlowMist blockchain security analytics firm stating that Lazarus group might pose as blockchain developers searching for crypto-sector jobs. As narrated in the SlowMist’s report, the hacker’s strategy is intricate. They trick vulnerable LinkedIn users into sending in personal information under the guise of job inquisition. The moment contact is established, the intruders make the victims download the code and turn it over to them for a possible code repair process. However, the code segments presented as innocent by Lazarus, show sophisticated capabilities of stealing money and sensitive information from the targets. The persistent attack defines a periodic function that is triggered at a fixed time: steal everything, which attempts to steal as much data as possible from the user’s device and upload it to a server controlled by the attacker. Lazarus is known to use the latest emerging tactics Lazarus has continued to deploy this method in its schedule, matching its previous schemes, for instance, when a similar trap was set as fake meta recruiters in December 2023. The victims received tasks such as coding challenges which were avenues to malware able to provide the hackers remote access to the victim’s network. Lazarus Group’s wicked actions make up far more than just social engineering via LinkedIn. The various crypto heists performed by the group show that it has accumulated more than $3 billion in stolen cryptocurrencies since its inception. Well-known instances have been the $37 million theft from crypto payment platform CoinPaid and the very big $625 million hack of Ronin Bridge. Cyber thefts reportedly fund up to 40% of WMD programs Lazarus uses crypto mixing services to launder the stolen funds and move them back into North Korea, where reportedly it is used to advance the army. The international security councils, in this regard, recognize the connection between the operations of Lazarus Group and North Korea’s unauthorized weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. A report from a U.N. panel of experts published last month revealed that an estimated 40% of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were funded through illicit cyber means mostly stolen crypto. The U.S. and the allies, in strong diplomatic moves, have taken in the broader picture, which shows that these cyber-initiatives have become a threat to national security. Enforcement measures such as sanctions against the crypto mixer Sinbad indicate clearly that the authorities do not tolerate actions that, in the case of Lazarus, enable illicit activities. With the crypto sector still struggling to handle cyber security, assessment and amelioration of security procedures to defeat intelligent actors like Lazarus Group have been urged.
The original scrawled sign was auctioned off by “Bitcoin Sign Guy” Christian Langalis for 16 BTC after apparently sitting in his sock drawer for years.
Runes continues to make up the vast majority of Bitcoin transactions, however the fees earned by Bitcoin miners from Runes has slightly tailed off since the record-setting halving day.
President Biden’s move to introduce a 44.6% federal capital gains tax probably wouldn’t affect most people in crypto, according to crypto tax commentators.
The post XRP Whales Seize Buying Opportunities Amid Market Fluctuations appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Around three weeks ago, XRP reached a peak of $0.6413 before it dropped to a yearly low of $0.4336 within days. This reflected a 32% decline in less than three weeks. However, this pullback has given the whales a notable buying chance. Last week, XRP climbed back to around $0.5, showing a 6% increase. But, more than 452 million XRP, worth over $232 million, was transferred to exchanges like Bitvavo, Bithumb, and Bitstamp from unknown wallets. This has raised concerns about a huge sell-off, even though XRP has recovered from a low of $0.43. XRP Whales Buy During the Drop When XRP fell from $0.6413 to $0.4336 in about three weeks,the whales saw it as a chance to buy. Analyst Ali Martinez said these whales, mainly the ones holding between 10 to 100 million XRP, bought over 31 million XRP in just one week. That sums up to the worth of $16 million. However, some experts say that this buying will lead to a big rise in price. Whales Are More Active Whales moved 70 million XRP amidst the SEC vs SEC lawsuit. Some bought XRP, and some sold. This made the price uncertain. Nevertheless, some experts are of the opinion that XRP could reach $1. Read more: XRP Whale Transfers 129M XRP Amid Ripple Vs SEC Lawsuit Speculations Studies show that big XRP holders tend to buy more when the price drops. This study is supported further by data from Santiment. It shows more wallets holding at least one million XRP. By April 22, there were 2,013 of these wallets, up 3.1% in six weeks and close to the highest ever of 2,014 in June 2023. This rise in buying is a result of XRP being the only digital asset with clear rules in the U.S. XRPL AMMs TVL Reaches 7 Million XRP XRPL AMMs have locked up over 7 million XRP in just one month. 3.7 million is currently locked. Recently, 1.5 million XRP was added in just a week, mainly to the SOLO/XRP pool. It offers the best return at 2.54% APY. In fact, Ripple also plans to launch a lending system and its own stablecoin on XRPL soon. Read more: Ripple Price Prediction: XRP’s Path to a $33 Billion Market Surge by 2025
The post U.S. DOJ Cracks Down on Samourai Wallet for Alleged Money Laundering appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Samourai Wallet developers released a beta version in 2024 allowing atomic swaps of bitcoin/monero. This new feature streamlined secure swaps between BTC and XMR using the Tor network. This release came amidst government scrutiny of privacy coins and exchanges delisting them. In October, FinCEN proposed new rules for crypto-mixing services. This was done to reduce money laundering risks. Also, starting from 30 Jan 2024, U.S. users would need to keep records. Following the beta version release, Samourai Wallet, Strike, and other firms urged FinCEN to drop its crypto-mixing rules proposal. They argued the rules were too broad, interfered with lawful activities, and added unnecessary burdens to the industry. The companies also believed the data FinCEN wanted was already public. Hence, additional reporting was not necessary. Read more: FinCEN Cracks Down on Bitzlato, Binance Named as CounterParty Samourai Wallet Founders Arrested for Money Laundering Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, founders of Samourai Wallet, were arrested and charged with money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Southern District of New York, led the investigation. The charges claim that they enabled over $2 billion in illegal transactions and laundered over $100 million. The DOJ says Samourai Wallet mainly processed transactions from illegal dark web markets and defrauded decentralized finance protocols. Additionally, IRS-CI Special Agent Thomas Fattorusso noted that the major money laundering is due to the company’s lack of compliance. Enforcement Agencies Seize Samourai Assets and Pursue Extradition Law enforcement agencies coordinated their efforts to arrest Rodriguez in Pennsylvania and Hill in Portugal. The U.S. plans to seek Hill’s extradition for trial. Alongside the arrests, authorities collaborated with Icelandic officials to seize Samourai’s web servers and domain. A seizure warrant was also issued for the Samourai Wallet mobile application on the Google Play Store, ensuring its removal from the U.S. market. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the company’s role in facilitating money laundering from platforms like Silk Road and Hydra Market. He promised continued efforts to dismantle criminal organizations using cryptocurrency for illicit activities. Crypto Market Reacts to Samourai Wallet Founders’ Arrest The cryptocurrency market became unstable after the U.S. DOJ arrested Samourai Wallet’s CEO and CTO. Within an hour of the news, Bitcoin fell by 3.6% to $64,296, while Ethereum dropped 2.51% to $3,147. Both coins recovered slightly afterward. Read more: Ethereum Sees Decline In Whale Interest Amid Rising Bearish Threats: What’s Next For ETH Price? Other popular coins like PEPE, Shiba Inu, and Dogecoin also fell. Bitcoin saw $33.08 million and Ethereum $29.88 million of long positions sold off. This drop came during Middle East tensions and after the recent Bitcoin halving. People in the crypto world worry the arrests mean tougher rules from the U.S. government. Some think it’s a bad sign for Bitcoin.
The post Altcoin Season Begins! How The Bitcoin Halving Might Affect Solana, XRP, and New Crypto Raboo appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News A renewed interest in altcoins is taking hold and impacting established platforms like Solana and XRP, as well as exciting new crypto entries like Raboo–priced at $0.0036 in its presale. Each of these cryptocurrencies brings unique innovations and challenges to the table, making them key altcoins to watch. This season promises to highlight the potential of these diverse platforms, from Solana’s high-speed blockchain capabilities to Raboo’s community-centric approach, offering investors a spectrum of opportunities in the evolving crypto market. Solana (SOL): A leader in blockchain efficiency Solana has emerged as a prominent player in the blockchain space, recognized for its exceptional processing speed and scalability. This high-performance blockchain can handle thousands of transactions per second thanks to its innovative Proof of History (PoH) consensus mechanism, making it an attractive platform for developers and an important new crypto in the ecosystem. Solana’s capabilities position it as one of the key altcoins to watch, especially for applications requiring high throughput, like decentralized exchanges and gaming. However, Solana’s rapid growth has not been without issues. The network has faced multiple outages, highlighting its stability and reliability concerns. These technical challenges could deter investors looking for more consistent performance. Raboo (RABT): A community-centered approach At the heart of new crypto Raboo’s appeal is its commitment to fostering a vibrant, engaged community. This is achieved through its unique AI and social-fi model, which rewards users for participation and creativity. The platform offers weekly, monthly, and quarterly challenges and special giveaways, allowing users to earn $RABT tokens while participating in fun and creative activities. This model encourages active community involvement and ensures that every interaction within the Raboo ecosystem contributes to its growth and success. This focus on community and user engagement positions Raboo as a leader in the next generation of meme coins, offering more than just speculative value but a real opportunity to be part of an innovative social and financial movement. XRP (XRP): Pioneering cryptocurrency for payment solutions XRP is designed to facilitate fast, inexpensive cross-border transactions, making it a standout in the payment solutions sector and significant new crypto to consider. It acts as a bridge currency in the Ripple network, allowing for liquidity management and reducing the necessity of holding multiple foreign currencies in reserve. This utility has positioned XRP as one of the altcoins to watch, particularly for financial institutions looking to streamline their transaction processes. Despite its benefits, XRP faces regulatory challenges, particularly in the United States, where the SEC has filed a lawsuit against Ripple for alleged illegal securities offerings. This legal uncertainty has shadowed XRP’s future, potentially limiting its adoption and integration into mainstream financial systems. The strategic potential of altcoins to watch in the post-halving era While Solana and XRP each offer unique attributes in terms of efficiency and payment solutions, new crypto Raboo stands out as the most promising investment. With its innovative social-fi model and community-centred approach, Raboo is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the post-halving surge. For investors looking to leverage the bullish momentum of the halving, Raboo offers a compelling blend of innovation, community engagement, and growth potential, making it an optimal choice in the current crypto landscape. You can participate in the Raboo presale here.
BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF inflow streak ended on April 24 after IBIT recorded no inflows for the day, according to data from Farside.