North Korean state-linked hackers are deploying AI-generated deepfake videos in sophisticated phishing attacks that have pilfered over $2 billion from the cryptocurrency industry in 2025 alone. A new report from Google’s Mandiant security team details how threat actors are exploiting trust in routine digital communications—like video calls and calendar invites—to execute highly targeted intrusions, signaling a dangerous evolution in cybercrime where digital identity itself has become the primary vulnerability.
about North Korean Hackers Use AI Deepfakes to Steal $2B in CryptoChainalysis
1 posts last weekChinese Crypto Laundering Networks Surge, Moving $82B in 2025
A new report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reveals a dramatic and alarming escalation in cryptocurrency-based money laundering, with Chinese-language networks (CMLNs) emerging as a dominant and rapidly growing global threat. These sophisticated operations now account for roughly 20% of all identified illicit crypto laundering, processing billions annually and highlighting a seismic shift in how organized crime moves money across borders using digital assets.
about Chinese Crypto Laundering Networks Surge, Moving $82B in 2025Chinese Crypto Laundering Networks Control 20% of Illicit Flows
The global landscape of illicit cryptocurrency finance is undergoing a seismic shift, with Chinese-language money laundering networks (CMLNs) now dominating a fifth of all illicit crypto flows. According to a new report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, these networks processed over $82 billion in 2025, a staggering increase from just $10 billion in 2020. This explosive growth, driven by the accessibility of digital assets and sophisticated new laundering methods, highlights a critical and widening gap between the capabilities of criminal organizations and global law enforcement.
about Chinese Crypto Laundering Networks Control 20% of Illicit FlowsNorth Korean Hackers Use AI Deepfakes in $17B Crypto Scam
State-sponsored hackers from North Korea are deploying AI-generated deepfake video calls in a sophisticated social engineering campaign targeting cryptocurrency professionals, a scheme contributing to record crypto losses estimated at $17 billion in 2025. The attacks, attributed to the Lazarus subgroup BlueNoroff, involve staged Zoom meetings where attackers impersonate trusted contacts to deliver macOS malware disguised as audio fixes. Security experts warn that visual media can no longer be considered reliable proof of identity in high-stakes digital finance, signaling a dangerous new frontier in cyber-enabled financial crime.
about North Korean Hackers Use AI Deepfakes in $17B Crypto ScamFentanyl Trafficker Gets 12 Years for Bitcoin-Fueled Drug Ring
The 12-year prison sentence for New Jersey drug trafficker William Panzera marks a significant conviction in a case that exposes the critical role of cryptocurrency in modern narcotics supply chains. Panzera’s operation, which imported over a metric ton of fentanyl-related substances from China between 2014 and 2020, relied on Bitcoin and wire transfers to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to suppliers, illustrating how digital assets bypass traditional financial oversight to fuel a deadly trade.
about Fentanyl Trafficker Gets 12 Years for Bitcoin-Fueled Drug RingAI-Powered Crypto Scams Hit Record $17B in 2025
Cryptocurrency scams inflicted a staggering $17 billion in losses in 2025, a record driven by artificial intelligence tools that made fraud faster, more convincing, and far more profitable. According to a new report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, AI-enabled scams generated 4.5 times more revenue per operation than traditional fraud, while impersonation scams—fueled by deepfakes—exploded by over 1,400% year-over-year. This surge reflects a dangerous evolution where technological sophistication meets organized crime, creating a crisis with profound financial and human costs.
about AI-Powered Crypto Scams Hit Record $17B in 2025Crypto Losses Hit $2.9B in 2025 as Hacks Grow Larger, Fewer
The crypto industry suffered nearly $3 billion in losses from security incidents in 2025, a 45% increase from the previous year despite fewer overall hacks. A new report reveals a troubling shift toward fewer but far larger-scale attacks, with centralized exchanges bearing the brunt of the financial damage. Meanwhile, regulatory enforcement saw significant escalation as authorities stepped up actions against crypto-related crime.
about Crypto Losses Hit $2.9B in 2025 as Hacks Grow Larger, FewerGalaxy Digital Forecasts $50B Crypto ETF Inflows, 100+ New Funds in 2026
As the first U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs approach their second anniversary, Galaxy Digital’s 2026 forecast paints a picture of explosive institutional adoption. The firm projects net inflows into crypto ETFs will more than double to exceed $50 billion next year, fueled by wirehouse support, Vanguard’s entry, and a wave of new altcoin and multi-asset funds. This optimism extends beyond ETFs, with over 15 cryptocurrency companies expected to pursue U.S. public listings as regulatory clarity improves.
about Galaxy Digital Forecasts $50B Crypto ETF Inflows, 100+ New Funds in 2026Trust Wallet Hack: $7M Stolen, CZ Hints at Insider Role
A critical vulnerability in Trust Wallet’s browser extension has led to an estimated $7 million in stolen user funds, with Binance founder Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao hinting at possible insider involvement while pledging compensation. This security breach, identified as a potential supply chain attack, underscores escalating threats to browser-based cryptocurrency wallets and a dramatic shift in how digital assets are being stolen.
about Trust Wallet Hack: $7M Stolen, CZ Hints at Insider RoleGhana Legalizes Crypto Trading with New VASP Regulatory Framework
Ghana has enacted landmark legislation that formally legalizes cryptocurrency trading nationwide under a new regulatory framework. The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) law establishes clear licensing requirements and supervisory oversight for crypto businesses, shifting the country from uncertainty to structured governance of its rapidly growing digital asset economy. This decisive move aims to balance widespread adoption with robust consumer protection and anti-financial crime measures.
about Ghana Legalizes Crypto Trading with New VASP Regulatory FrameworkCrypto Theft Hits $3.4B in 2025, North Korea Steals $2B
The cryptocurrency industry faced one of its most devastating years for criminal losses in 2025, with over $3.4 billion stolen between January and early December according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. This staggering total, driven by a record $2.02 billion haul by North Korean state-sponsored hackers, signals a dangerous new era of concentrated, geopolitically motivated attacks that are reshaping the security landscape for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and major stablecoins like USDT and USDC.
about Crypto Theft Hits $3.4B in 2025, North Korea Steals $2BWemade Forms GAKS Alliance for KRW Stablecoin Mainnet
Blockchain gaming company Wemade has launched the Global Alliance for KRW Stablecoins (GAKS) with key partners Chainalysis, CertiK and SentBe, marking a significant step forward in establishing a compliant Korean won-based stablecoin ecosystem. This strategic partnership aims to support StableNet, a dedicated mainnet for KRW-backed stablecoins, following multiple previous setbacks in creating regulated digital currency infrastructure in South Korea. The alliance brings together specialized expertise in blockchain analytics, security auditing, and cross-border payments to create a comprehensive framework that meets institutional and regulatory requirements.
about Wemade Forms GAKS Alliance for KRW Stablecoin Mainnet