Crypto
Wall Street Journal corrects article misciting Hamas’ crypto terrorism funding data
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has partially corrected an article that mischaracterized the extent to which Hamas and other militant groups have been funding its terrorist activities with cryptocurrencies.
The Oct. 10 article titled “Hamas Militants Behind Israel Attack Raised Millions in Crypto” cited blockchain forensics firm Elliptic and said Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terrorist organization operating in the Gaza Strip, raised as much as $93 million between August 2021 and June 2023.
In the cited report, Elliptic said Israel’s counter-terrorism unit seized PIJ-linked wallets, which received $93 million over that timeframe. However, Elliptic clarified that this did not mean PIJ raised these funds to finance its terrorism activities.
Research from blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis suggests only $450,000 of these funds were sent to a known terrorism-affiliated wallet.
The WSJ’s correction stated PIJ and Lebanese political party Hezbollah “may have exchanged” up to $12 million in cryptocurrency — far less than its initial $93 million figure.
“Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah may have exchanged up to $12 million in crypto since 2021, according to crypto-research firm Elliptic. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said PIJ had sent more than $12 million in crypto to Hezbollah since 2021,” The WSJ said.
The publication said it updated other parts of the article to include “additional context” about Elliptic’s research.
The WSJ’s retraction follows an Oct. 25 statement by Elliptic, which called on The WSJ to correct its misinterpretation of the data. Elliptic added that cryptocurrency funding by Hamas remains “tiny” relative to other funding sources.
On Oct. 27, Elliptic was pleased to see The WSJ acknowledge its mistakes but said it would’ve liked to see it be more specific about its corrections.
We’re pleased to see the Wall Street Journal issue some corrections to their article based on our feedback. While we would like to have seen them go further, we will continue to engage constructively.
— Elliptic (@elliptic) October 27, 2023
Related: Elizabeth Warren uses Hamas as her newest scapegoat in war on crypto
Coinbase’s chief legal officer Paul Grewal also noted that The WSJ’s opening paragraph is still framed as though cryptocurrency was the primary funding source behind Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
2/ @WSJ‘s lede still maintains that the funding supported Hamas attacks hinged on “One answer: cryptocurrency.” There’s no evidence of that, and WSJ knows it. pic.twitter.com/BQK80b1jMd
— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) October 27, 2023
“This is barely a correction,” he added.
Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, as well as several other prominent individuals in crypto, are now calling on United States Senator Elizabeth Warren to retract a related letter backed by over 100 U.S. lawmakers written to the White House on Oct. 17. The letter cited The WSJ’s misinterpreted data from Elliptic in an attempt to argue that cryptocurrency poses a “national security threat” to the U.S. and that Congress and the Biden administration should act swiftly before cryptocurrencies are used to finance another “tragedy.”
Liz Warren wyd? pic.twitter.com/e0Ew2TQzRb
— nic carter (@nic__carter) October 27, 2023 Magazine: US enforcement agencies are turning up the heat on crypto-related crime
Crypto
Russia's Crypto Clampdown: Tight Regulations Aim to Curb Cryptocurrency Activities – TokenPost
Russia is poised to enact stringent regulations on cryptocurrency trading, aiming to curb the mass trade of digital assets like Bitcoin within its borders. This move, driven by geopolitical tensions and sanctions, signals a significant shift in the country’s approach to digital finance.
Russia’s Cryptocurrency Policy Shift: Centralized Control and Regulatory Uncertainties
In a recent report by CryptoPotato, the government’s decision to control the bitcoin industry is a significant step. Only miners and projects sanctioned by the Central Bank will be permitted to operate. Importantly, any creation of cryptocurrency exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) services outside the experimental legislative framework will be deemed illegal.
Anton Gorelkin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, has clarified that he does not support a complete ban on bitcoin circulation in Russia.
In a Telegram post, he clarified that the restriction is not intended to prohibit all Bitcoin use but rather to govern the formation of cryptocurrency exchange platforms within Russia’s legal framework.
Gorelkin further claims that geopolitical circumstances, including considerations of international relations impact the establishment of a legitimate Russian crypto infrastructure. He said that allowing such infrastructure would expose Russian enterprises to Western sanctions.
Gorelkin further stated that the limitation may be lifted and that customers can continue to use foreign crypto exchanges and OTC services as previously. However, the impact on several OTC crypto services in Moscow remains undetermined.
Anatoly Aksakov’s Agenda: Bolstering Ruble with Stricter Cryptocurrency Regulations
Gorelkin’s latest article needs to clarify Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, who stated that the controversial measure aims to limit non-Russian cryptocurrency operations to reinforce the ruble’s dominance.
Aksakov stated that the law would provide exemptions for crypto miners and Central Bank-backed pilot projects under a trial legal framework, citing that crypto mining contributes significantly to Russia’s tax revenue.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, has urged for a more balanced approach, arguing for regulation permitting the use of cryptocurrencies in local and foreign transactions.
Photo: Microsoft Bing
TokenPost | [email protected]
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Crypto
May 2024’s Essential Cryptocurrency Picks: Investors Buzzing Over BlockDAG X1 Mobile Mining App Amid Forecasts for Ondo, Optimism, and Aptos – NullTX
Investors are keenly looking for the next ample opportunity as the cryptocurrency market witnesses a surge in 2024. Amongst the frontrunners, BlockDAG steals the spotlight with its innovative mining technology, outpacing other popular options like Ondo, Optimism (OP), and Aptos. BlockDAG’s user-oriented mining solutions have positioned it as a top choice in May 2024’s cryptocurrency forecasts. The anticipation builds around the upcoming June 1 launch of BlockDAG’s X1 Mobile Mining beta app.
1. BlockDAG: Pioneering Simplified Mining Solutions
BlockDAG is reshaping the crypto-mining landscape with its easy-to-use mining options and robust technological backbone. The X1 mobile mining app from BlockDAG allows individuals to mine up to 20 BDAG coins daily using just their smartphones, offering a perfect start for novices and a convenient tool for tech enthusiasts. Moreover, BlockDAG’s range of home mining devices, including the X10, X30, and X100 miners, provides various power levels and efficiency, catering to different mining scales. These devices are built with advanced ASIC technology to ensure high performance and profitability.
This approach simplifies the mining process and focuses on energy efficiency and accessibility, promoting a more inclusive cryptocurrency environment. With impressive sales of over 5200 miners and revenues nearing $2.5 million, BlockDAG is committed to making crypto mining accessible and lucrative. The forthcoming release of the BlockDAG X1 Mobile Mining app is set to enhance its market presence further.
Ondo’s value has soared by 2846.67% in the past six months, bolstered by a recent 7.44% weekly gain. With its price currently oscillating between $0.64 and $1.03, Ondo is on a trajectory towards potentially hitting $1.24 and possibly $1.63. While the outlook is promising, market shifts could temper this ascent, and investors are advised to remain vigilant. Nonetheless, Ondo is attractive for those looking to leverage its bullish trend.
3. Aptos: Experiencing Fluctuations with Growth Potential
Aptos has shown a 7% increase in the last week, despite a 40% fall over the previous month. Prices fluctuating between $8.97 and $10.65 suggest a possible climb to $11.31 or even $12.99 if the upward trend continues. However, the medium-term downturn poses risks, demanding cautious investment strategies. Aptos presents a compelling choice for those prepared to manage its price volatility.
4. Optimism (OP): Facing Challenges with Promising Growth
Optimism has demonstrated volatile yet promising market dynamics, with a 14% rise over the last week counterbalanced by a 31% decrease in the past month. Prices ranging from $2.14 to $2.64 indicate potential recovery targets at $2.83 and $3.33. Despite mixed market signals, OP’s resilience suggests it might be poised for near-term recovery and growth.
BlockDAG: Leading May 2024’s Crypto Innovations
While Ondo, Optimism, and Aptos offer notable opportunities, BlockDAG emerges as the clear leader in the May 2024 cryptocurrency market. Its groundbreaking technology of the X1 app and comprehensive product suite equip new and experienced investors with the tools to succeed in the evolving digital currency arena. BlockDAG not only leads the top four expert crypto picks but also sets a high standard for innovation and profitability in the crypto industry.
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.
Crypto
Bitcoin trader loses almost $70 million after sending crypto to wrong online account address
A cryptocurrency trader reportedly lost tens of millions of dollars in a so-called “address poisoning” scam.
Address poisoning scams are carried out by thieves who make spoof accounts of their victim’s online crypto “address,” which they use to send a small amount of currency to the victim in hopes that they will accidentally send money to the fake address later, according to Transak, a crypto trading platform.
Because blockchains are public, it’s easy for scammers to find people’s crypto addresses and send out spoof transactions to phish for victims.
CertiK, a blockchain security firm, confirmed it detected a transfer of $69.3 million worth of Bitcoin to an address “linked with address poisoning” in a post on X.
The victim’s crypto wallet now shows a total loss of around 97% of its assets on Coinbase. The account is now worth just more than $1.6 million.
Peckshield, another security firm, wrote on X that the scammers traded the stolen Bitcoin for 23,000 Ethereum and then transferred the funds. Ethereum is trading at $3,116 a coin, according to The Daily Hodl.
Trezor, another crypto trading platform, recommends double-checking every address before sending a transaction and never copying an address from transaction history when transferring funds to avoid address scams.
Sending a small test transaction before making a large transfer is also an effective method of verifying the address, the company says.
Cryptocurrency-related scams are on the rise, according to the FBI’s 2023 internet crime report. Crypto-related frauds cost investors $3.94 billion last year, the report says, making up more than three-quarters of the year’s investment scam losses.
One study showed that crypto “pig butchering” scams cost investors $75 million from 2020 to 2024. The fraud starts with criminals sending a wrong-number text that they use as a way to build trust with victims.
Then, they send small payments to them and lure them into making fake crypto investments, only cutting off contact once the victim has sent a large amount of money to the thief.
The scam’s name refers to fattening a pig up before the slaughter.
Most cryptocurrency scams involve scammers trying to get victims in unrelated scams to pay them in Bitcoin so that their crimes cannot be traced, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The best way to spot a crypto scam is to never trust someone who will only accept payment in crypto or who is promising big profit returns on a fishy investment, the agency says.
“Investment scams are one of the top ways scammers trick you into buying cryptocurrency and sending it on to scammers,” the FTC says. “But scammers are also impersonating businesses, government agencies, and a love interest, among other tactics.”
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