• Bulgarian media outlets have reported that the founder of the fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme OneCoin, Ruja Ignatova (aka the “Cryptoqueen”) may have been murdered in November 2018.
• The suspect is rumored to be a leader of a criminal gang and one of the drug kingpins in East Europe named Hristoforos Amanatidis (“Taki”).
• Ignatova was last seen in Athens, Greece in 2017 and is included on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list.

Cryptoqueen’s Alleged Murder

Secret police documents seen by Bulgarian media outlets revealed that Ruja Ignatova, better known as the “Cryptoqueen,” might have been brutally murdered over four years ago. The hitman, acting on behalf of local drug lord Hristoforos Amanatidis (“Taki”), supposedly chopped her body and threw her remains into the Ionian sea.

Connection to Onecoin Fraud Scheme

Some coverages believe he ordered Ignatova’s assassination because he had a connection with her fraudulent cryptocurrency project OneCoin. The “Cryptoqueen” and her brainchild scammed millions of people between 2014 and 2016, stealing over $4 billion from victims.

FBI’s Most Wanted List

Ignatova is included in the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list and has been missing since 2017 when she was last spotted in Greece.

Reasons Behind Her Disappearance

It is speculated that she could have been killed due to her involvement with Taki and/or her fraud scam or else she could be hiding away due to facing legal action for her alleged crimes.

Investigation Still Ongoing

Authorities are continuing their investigations into both Ignatova’s disappearance and potential murder as well as her potentially fraudulent activities related to OneCoin.

• The largest creditors of the cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox have chosen to receive up to 90% of their claims in Bitcoin instead of fiat currency.
• The decision eases concerns about a massive Bitcoin sell-off as the bankruptcy trustee won’t have to liquidate the assets in the open market for repayment.
• Mt. Gox became insolvent nine years ago after a devastating hack that resulted in the theft of 850,000 BTC, valued at $460 million at the time of the incident.

Mt. Gox Bankruptcy: Largest Creditors Choose Bitcoin Payment

The largest creditors of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox have chosen a payment option that will allow them to receive a lump sum of their recovery payout in bitcoins rather than fiat currency. The creditors, now-defunct crypto exchange Bitcoinica and Mt Gox Investment Fund (MGIF), collectively represent about one-fifth of the bankruptcy claims and have opted to receive up to 90% of their claims in BTC during an early payout scheduled for September 2023.

Why This Decision Eases Concerns

This decision eases concerns about a massive bitcoin sell-off taking place in coming months as Nobuaki Kobayashi, the bankruptcy trustee, won’t have to liquidate assets from within his portfolio on open markets for repayment. This early payout also means that creditors don’t have to wait another nine years for all litigation related with Mt. Gox’s insolvency to be resolved; although waiting would offer higher payouts overall.

The Insolvency Of Mt. Gox

Mt. Gox became bankrupt nine years ago when 850,000 BTC were stolen by hackers; these funds were valued at $460 million at that time of incident occurrence. Since then it has been deep into paperwork and planning how best it can compensate its creditors effectively and fairly without causing any problems with regards liquidity or inflation rates in global financial markets by allowing mass selling all at once on open exchanges like Binance or Coinbase Pro etc..

Predictions About Early Payout In Bitcoins

Given this new announcement about accepting bitcoin payments for early creditor returns, analysts are predicting positive outcomes as there is likely going to be less pressure on bitcoin prices from bearish traders who may try and dump coins onto markets all together if they had received large cash payments instead directly from custodianship funds held by Mr Kobayashi himself over past decade+.

Conclusion

Overall this news provides some much needed assurance towards future outlooks regarding cryptocurrency industry especially given current state where many investors feel uncertainly due uncertainty surrounding regulations plus other factors such as unpredictable energy costs which could pose further risks down line if not managed carefully by governments around world moving forward with digital asset adoption initiatives – hopefully leading brighter futures ahead!

• Paxos, the issuer of BUSD and its own Pax Dollar (USDP) stablecoin, is reportedly being investigated by NYSDFS.
• Paxos has been trying to secure a national trust bank charter for a while now.
• The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) has launched a probe into Paxos’ dealings, although the exact scope of the investigation is unclear.

Paxos Under Investigation By US Authorities: Report

Regulatory Oversight

Paxos Trust Co., a crypto company based in New York, is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS). Companies wishing to operate in their jurisdiction must comply with the NYSDFS’ stablecoin-related guidance – which was issued after TerraUSD’s collapse – along with all other regulatory directives. In exchange, the regulator gains insights into these businesses’ operations.

Investigation Launched

Recently, the NYSDFS launched an investigation into Paxos’ dealings, although its exact scope is unclear. This news follows speculation that Paxos had been denied a national trust bank charter from the OCC but was quickly refuted by the firm itself on Twitter.

What Does This Mean?

Paxos has two main products: BUSD and its lesser-known stablecoin, USDP. The outcome of this investigation will affect both products and could have wider implications for those operating within similar regulatory frameworks across different states in America.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen what will happen next or how long this investigation will take before any conclusions are drawn or action taken against Paxos. Nevertheless, it’s important to pay attention to such developments as they can shape future industry regulations as well as consumer protection efforts in crypto.

• North Korean hackers stole $1.7 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2022, according to Chainalysis.
• DeFi projects were the primary target of the hacks, accounting for 82% of all digital assets stolen.
• October was the worst month for security, with $775.7 million stolen in 32 separate attacks.

Cryptocurrency security has been a major concern for the industry over the past year, with 2022 proving to be one of the worst years in terms of hackings and exploits. According to a report by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, $3.8 billion worth of digital assets were stolen from cryptocurrency businesses in the span of the year, with decentralized finance (DeFi) being the primary target.

DeFi protocols were hit the hardest, accounting for an estimated 82% of all digital assets stolen in 2022, amounting to $3.1 billion in losses. In comparison, just last year, DeFi lost only $44 million, showing a drastic increase in the number of hacks and attacks against these protocols. The most significant losses occurred in March and October, with $732.4 million and $775.7 million stolen in those respective months. The latter went on to become the biggest single month ever for crypto hacking, with 32 separate attacks.

The Chainalysis report also provided insights into the cybercriminals behind the attacks, finding that North Korean hackers were responsible for stealing $1.7 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2022. This marks a significant surge from the $25 million stolen by the hackers in 2020.

The report also highlighted the dangers posed by phishing scams, which accounted for 61% of all stolen crypto. As such, security remains a major concern for the industry, with these attacks serving as a reminder of the need for more robust security measures to protect digital assets from malicious actors.

• The crypto market appears to have priced in last year’s string of crypto company bankruptcies.
• At least two banks with a high-profile roster of cryptocurrency companies for customers are staying afloat with money from home loan banks.
• This may be a bullish signal for cryptocurrency in the big-picture view, even though regulators still remain wary.

The cryptocurrency market has experienced its fair share of turbulence in the past year. Despite the fact that the crypto market has largely priced in last year’s bankruptcies, an interesting dynamic is taking shape. While crypto prices continue to edge upward, the market bears and bulls regroup, and even the recent bankruptcy of Genesis hasn’t dampened crypto investors’ enthusiasm.

At least two banks with a high-profile roster of cryptocurrency companies for customers are staying afloat with money from home loan banks. This may be a bullish signal for cryptocurrency in the big-picture view, though regulators still remain wary. These banks are using the funds to pay off their positions, which could be a sign of increasing stability in the market.

The exact details of the arrangement remain unclear, but it appears that the home loan banks are providing funds to support these crypto banks in exchange for an equity stake in the businesses. This type of arrangement could potentially bridge the gap between traditional financial institutions and the crypto world.

The crypto market has already responded positively to this news, indicating that the market may be ready to move on from the bankruptcies of last year. This could be a sign that the industry is maturing and becoming more resilient. This could also mean that the crypto market is becoming increasingly attractive to traditional investors and financial institutions, as the risk of investing in crypto is seen as lower.

Ultimately, the news of home loan banks bailing out crypto banks may be a sign that the industry is coming of age. This could encourage more investment from traditional financial institutions and further propel the development of the crypto market. While regulators remain wary, this could be the beginning of a new era of stability and growth in the crypto world.

• The Biden Administration announced a new roadmap to regulate cryptocurrencies and provide clarity to the industry.
• The framework aims to combat the multiple cryptocurrency scams that impacted the crypto market last year and ensure that cryptocurrencies cannot undermine the financial stability of the United States.
• The roadmap provides guidance to investors on how to safely interact with cryptocurrencies, as well as new measures to help detect and deter criminal activities.

The Biden Administration recently unveiled a roadmap that outlines plans to regulate cryptocurrencies and protect investors from fraudulent activities. This announcement comes after the cryptocurrency market experienced a turbulent year, with multiple scams costing millions of dollars in losses.

To combat this, the White House has released a plan to provide greater clarity and security to the crypto industry. This plan is designed to help protect investors from fraud and ensure that cryptocurrencies do not destabilize the US economy.

The roadmap provides guidance to investors on how to safely interact with cryptocurrencies, as well as new measures to help detect and deter criminal activities. It also outlines plans for implementing stronger anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations for virtual asset service providers.

Additionally, the plan includes initiatives to help strengthen consumer protection, such as a proposed rule to require digital asset trading platforms to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new regulatory framework will also provide clarity on taxation, as well as rules to ensure that cryptocurrency companies comply with existing banking laws.

The Biden Administration’s roadmap is an attempt to create a more transparent and secure cryptocurrency industry. By providing greater guidance and oversight, it is hoped that this new framework will help to prevent further scams and losses, while also protecting investors and safeguarding the US economy.

• Solana has seen a 6% increase in the past 24 hours.
• The key resistance at $27 is keeping bulls in check, and a major breakout is expected over the coming days.
• The considerable buying volume has allowed Solana to remain on the offensive, but the momentum is fading.

Solana, a leading smart contract platform, has seen a 6% increase in the past 24 hours despite the decline in buying volume. This has been attributed to the strong technicals that have kept the bulls in check. The key resistance at $27 is keeping the bulls in check, and a major breakout is expected over the coming days.

Technical analysis indicates that Solana has formed an ascending triangle, with the upper line of the triangle at $27. This is an extremely bullish pattern, and a breakout above this level could lead to further gains for the coin. The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) is just under 80 points and is making lower highs, which is bearish. The daily Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is still bullish, but may do a bearish crossover in the near future.

The considerable buying volume has allowed Solana to remain on the offensive, but the momentum is fading. In the event of a breakdown, the next key support level is at $20. A break below this level could lead to a substantial correction in the near future.

The Solana team has been working tirelessly to improve the platform and make it more attractive to developers. The team has launched a new tool, Solana Dashboard, that allows developers to monitor their applications, accounts, and nodes. The team is also working on improving scalability and developing new features that will make the platform more user-friendly.

In conclusion, Solana is showing a lot of promise and could be headed for a major breakout. The key resistance at $27 is keeping the bulls in check, but if it is broken, the price could surge higher. The team is continuing to develop the platform, and this could be a great opportunity for investors to get in on the action.

• Genesis, a DCG subsidiary, recently filed for bankruptcy on the 20th of January.
• A lawyer for Genesis believes disputes with creditors can be resolved within a week, and bankruptcy proceedings can be worked out by the end of May 2023.
• Creditors may receive at least a portion of their funds soon.

Genesis, a DCG subsidiary, recently filed for bankruptcy on the 20th of January, leaving many creditors in the dark about the future of their investments. However, Genesis lawyers have stated that they are optimistic about the outcome of the bankruptcy proceedings and believe that the disputes with creditors can be resolved within a week and bankruptcy proceedings can be worked out by the end of May 2023.

The asset book of Genesis does not look too bad and recent reports claim that creditors may receive at least a portion of their funds soon. A lawyer for Genesis, Sean O’Neal, went on record stating his belief that disputes with creditors can be resolved within a week and bankruptcy proceedings can be worked out by the end of May 2023.

It is unclear exactly how much of their investments creditors will be able to recover, but the news is sure to be seen as a positive sign by those affected by the bankruptcy. Genesis is still in the process of restructuring their debts and negotiations with creditors are still ongoing. However, the lawyers for Genesis remain optimistic that a resolution will be reached within the coming weeks.

The news of Genesis’ potential recovery is welcome news to those invested in the company. It remains to be seen how much of their investments creditors will be able to recover, but the news is sure to be seen as a positive sign by those affected by the bankruptcy. Genesis is still in the process of restructuring their debts and negotiations with creditors are still ongoing. However, the lawyers for Genesis remain optimistic that a resolution will be reached within the coming weeks.

The future of Genesis is still to be determined, but the news of a potential resolution should come as a welcome sight for those affected by the bankruptcy. Hopefully, the negotiations between Genesis and its creditors will be successful and creditors will be able to receive at least some of their investments back. Only time will tell how the situation will ultimately resolve, but one thing is for sure, Genesis is doing everything in its power to ensure that all of its creditors are taken care of.

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a five-point cryptocurrency recommendation scheme to global regulators.
• The recommendation scheme includes measures to protect market integrity, user protection, and financial stability.
• The IMF’s advice is meant to provide a framework for governments to effectively regulate and monitor the cryptocurrency sector.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a five-point cryptocurrency recommendation scheme to global regulators in order to protect market integrity, user protection, and financial stability. The advice was issued during a meeting of global leaders at Davos and is meant to provide a framework for governments to effectively regulate and monitor the cryptocurrency sector.

The IMF’s five-point recommendation scheme includes an immediate call for governments to develop and implement appropriate regulations for cryptocurrency exchanges. This would include measures to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities. It also calls for the establishment of a coordinated approach between the private sector and public authorities in order to better monitor and regulate the sector.

The IMF also recommends that governments should develop and implement a comprehensive framework for monitoring and mitigating risks associated with cryptocurrencies, such as price volatility and cybersecurity risks. The fund also suggests that governments should take measures to ensure that investors are sufficiently informed about the risks associated with digital currencies and that they are adequately protected from fraud and other deceptive practices.

Finally, the IMF suggests that governments should adopt a cooperative approach to international regulation, with an emphasis on mutual recognition of regulatory standards. This could potentially help to avoid regulatory arbitrage, where actors take advantage of differences in regulatory standards across jurisdictions.

The IMF’s five-point recommendation scheme is an important step towards ensuring the safety and integrity of the cryptocurrency sector. It provides a set of standards that governments should strive to meet in order to ensure the safety and security of investors and users. It also serves as a reminder that cryptocurrency is still a relatively new asset class, and that governments must be proactive in monitoring and regulating the sector in order to protect investors and the public from potential risks.

• In a new report, Chainalysis has determined that ransomware earnings have significantly dropped in 2022.
• This could be attributed to victims being less willing to pay up to attackers, resulting in less successful extortion attempts.
• Chainalysis estimates that the actual total of ransomware attacks could be much higher than what is reported.

Crypto-related attacks have been rampant in the past year, and ransomware has been no exception. According to a new report released by blockchain analytics company Chainalysis, ransomware earnings have significantly dropped in 2022. This could be attributed to victims being less willing to pay up to attackers, resulting in less successful extortion attempts.

The report revealed that over 10,000 unique strains of ransomware were active in the first half of the year. This data was also confirmed by on-chain data. It showed that the total amount of money extorted by ransomware attackers dropped by 25%, from $350 million to $260 million, from the first half of 2021 to the first half of 2022.

Chainalysis estimated that the actual total of ransomware attacks could be much higher than what is reported. This is because victims are becoming more and more reluctant to pay up. The company also stated that the number of attacks has been increasing at an alarming rate, but the amount of money extorted has been decreasing.

The report also shed light on the factors that are contributing to the decrease in ransom payments. It found that victims are increasingly looking for alternative solutions to their ransomware issues, such as using computer backups and other forms of data security. Furthermore, it suggested that cryptocurrency exchanges and other institutions are also taking steps to prevent attackers from cashing out their funds.

Chainalysis concluded that the decrease in ransom payments is a positive sign. It shows that victims are becoming more aware of the risks posed by ransomware attackers, and are taking the necessary measures to protect themselves. It also indicated that the industry is moving in the right direction, and that more needs to be done to ensure that victims are better protected in the future.