See the market, related assets, source and summary before opening a story so you can focus on what matters.
39 stories in this section
Interpol said police from 21 countries arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered more than $105 million in Operation Serengeti III. The crackdown also closed illegal crypto mining centers in Angola and traced suspected crypto-laundered fraud proceeds in Nigeria.
Italian police arrested 30 people and seized €21 million in an investigation into an alleged mafia-linked hidden bank near Milan. Prosecutors say the network used fake invoices, international transfers and crypto exchanges to move criminal proceeds abroad.
Chinese prosecutors are seeking to confiscate 61,896 Bitcoin seized in the UK from assets linked to Zhimin Qian, whose alleged investment scheme caused losses for more than 102,000 investors. A Tianjin court has accepted the case as UK proceedings over victim compensation continue.
Chinese prosecutors are seeking to confiscate more than 61,800 Bitcoin tied to an alleged $5.7 billion investment fraud affecting over 102,000 people. The move follows a U.K. ruling that Chinese law should govern victims’ claims to Bitcoin seized in Britain.
Dutch police seized an Autistici/Inventati server in Amsterdam after a U.S. request linked to Washington’s terrorist designation of the anti-fascist group. Legal experts questioned whether Dutch authorities considered political-offence protections, while privacy advocates warned of wider consequences for digital infrastructure and sovereignty.
Authorities in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people in a West African crackdown on cryptocurrency investment scams. The operation flagged more than $11 million for possible freezing, while Binance, Coinbase, blockchain firms and Meta helped trace funds, identify victims and disrupt suspected scam centers.
Toronto police have charged seven men, including three Canadian Armed Forces members, over the alleged abduction of a cryptocurrency exchange owner. Police say the victim was targeted for access to crypto assets, while searches found firearms, drugs and more than 2,700 rounds of ammunition.
Richard Heart, founder of Hex, PulseChain and PulseX, was reportedly arrested with his wife in Istanbul. Turkish media said authorities seized cash, watches, firearms and electronics, while police had not confirmed the reported seizure figures.
Brooklyn prosecutors and the FBI seized 112 servers and shut down 241 websites tied to an Eastern European cryptocurrency scam network accused of stealing tens of millions of dollars from Americans, primarily Russian-speaking victims. No arrests were reported in the operation.
Hex founder Richard Heart was detained in Istanbul with his wife under an Interpol Red Notice sought by Finland over aggravated tax fraud, according to Turkish reports. The case follows the SEC’s earlier, ultimately dismissed action over alleged unregistered crypto offerings.
A London High Court ruling that Chinese law governs claims to 61,000 Bitcoin seized from fraudster Zhimin Qian has improved the UK’s chances of retaining the cryptocurrency. Victims’ lawyers plan to appeal, and the court has yet to decide whether any claimants own a share.
South Korea’s Supreme Court has finalized rules allowing courts to freeze, seize and sell cryptocurrency to recover unpaid civil debts. The measures take effect Nov. 1 and cover exchange-held and self-custodied assets, although private-key control may complicate enforcement.
A London court ruled that Chinese law governs victims’ claims to 61,000 bitcoin seized from a fraud investigation involving Zhimin Qian. The decision does not settle ownership, but it narrows recovery options and improves the UK government’s chances of retaining most of the £3.8 billion holding.
A UK High Court judge ruled that Chinese law must govern claims by fraud victims seeking rights to 61,000 Bitcoin seized during a British money-laundering investigation. The decision does not determine ownership, and the claimants’ legal representatives are pursuing an appeal.
UK authorities have frozen an £8.9 million London penthouse belonging to Thet Li, an alleged Prince Group finance chief. The action forms part of a wider probe involving luxury properties, jewelry, cash and billions of dollars in cryptocurrency allegedly linked to the group.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said authorities could seize about $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency this week, but he did not identify the assets or explain the planned process. The announcement highlights the differing levels of control over bitcoin, stablecoins and exchange-held digital assets.
The U.S. government moved 12,267 Bitcoin worth about $1.01 billion from funds seized in the Bitfinex hack case to a new wallet. The transfer did not confirm a sale, while recent government crypto movements have revived questions about its plans for seized digital assets.
The US government moved more than 12,267 seized Bitcoin worth over $1 billion from a wallet linked to the 2016 Bitfinex hack recovery, hours after transferring about $770 million in BTC to Coinbase Prime.
