FBI takes down 9 crypto exchanges linked to crime

The FBI, in collaboration with Ukrainian authorities, has shut down 9 cryptocurrency exchanges that were fronts for money laundering operations run by cybercriminals. The exchanges include: 24xbtc.com 100btc.pro pridechange.com 101crypta.com uxbtc.com trust-exchange.org bitcoin24.exchange paybtc.pro owl.gold It's nice to see these kinds of platforms being removed, but honestly, we all know this is just the start. I wouldn't be surprised if these same operators launch new sites to keep servicing their clients soon. It's like a never-ending fight between the criminals and government forces. What’s wild is that even with the ongoing war in Ukraine, these illegal activities just keep flourishing.

It seems that US is serious about fighting unlicensed platforms, as there is a Virtual Currency Response Team (VCRT) dedicated to such a response, but according to this report ----> https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/fbi-disrupts-virtual-currency-exchanges-used-facilitate-criminal-activity , no notice has been issued against those who run these sites, which appear to be from a country where Interpol cannot issue a red notice Or am I wrong?! exchanges that were sized seem small, but this opens the way for all platforms that do not require verification of identity that they will be next on that list.

I've never heard of any of these exchanges before. Are they Ukraine exchange that serve US customers or something? Seems like some of their servers are hosted in the US, which is why the FBI is seizing them, CMIIW. Calling them small is probably an understatement if we look at their social media. I've checked the 24xbtc and their Instagram doesn't even reach 1 thousand followers. I wonder how they can do the alleged laundering activities if they don't have a large number of users. Some exchanges will probably block US customers if they want to keep their no-KYC policy available. Although I'm not sure if that is a good move from a business standpoint. People should look for decentralized solutions to avoid being locked out of their accounts before their exchange starts to demand KYC.

I'm not sure about all sites, but I've seen some services before. Most of these sites are not cryptocurrency exchanges, but rather private services for exchanging cryptocurrency for fiat. There are many such services at https://www.bestchange.ru/ Such services did not collect information about customers and there are thousands of such services in Russia alone

Yeah, seems to be just a fly by night crypto exchanges and they are just create or build for that purposes, to be used by bad actors. Perhaps this could be promoted in some places in the web that is nested by this kind of criminals, and then market it as the place they can launder their money. So the operators we can say are smart enough to be under the radar for many years until someone from the US might have reported it, or some whistle blower tell it to the authorities. And it might be that they are serving US customers that's why FBi has to step up again. We all know how long their hands of the law is, specially if it involves US citizens whether users or victims here.

Me neither. The fact is that if they are advertised in I think it is very good that they have been seized. We do not engage in criminal activity on this forum, and that sets us apart from them. It is quite likely and I guess they did not have much trading volume, but just enough to facilitate the laundering of these illegal activities.

It seems that the United States is continuing its war against Crypto, even outside its borders, within the countries with which it has international agreements. But the question is, are all these services really bad? Or just because they work in cryptocurrency mixing and don't require KYC? I've never heard of most of these services on the list before but I suppose they're not all bad!

What is happening from the last war will open the door easy to close any crypto exchange. All you need is to accuse these platforms of laundering money or unlawful trade and you will find enough justification to close it. The most important for platforms is not the closure because it can work from the Kayman Islands, but it is difficult to create bank accounts in the European Union or the United States will deprive them of many of the liquidity they need to continue advertisements or pay salaries to employees.

Bad news again about crypto exchanges, in 2023 a series of cases and laws have occurred on crypto exchanges, ranging from arrests, fraudsters, closures, embezzlement, bankruptcy and so on, who knows what happens next to crypto exchanges that are spread all over the world. In 2010-2018 there weren't as many exchanges circulating as they are today, more and more exchanges, more cases that occur, it seems that some crypto exchanges are just for profit, Without considering the rules and laws that apply, they easily act outside the law and criminality, this is truly a case that cannot be imitated by other exchanges, I hope that in the future exchanges that still survive and operate in every country, can protect the crypto assets of their respective users, without the problems that have happened and we see like now.

I'm with the I never heard of any of these group of people. Has anyone had ANY experience with them be it good or bad? Since the Ukrainian police were mentioned I can only assume that they were operating out of that part of the world. -Dave

I may have dealt with these services. There are thousands of such services in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and no one asks for documents. Such exchanges do not store personal data, only a bank card number and transaction data, maybe even an email. Basically, this is a set of useless information, because the criminal uses bank cards and wallets of other people.

I am not sure what good you have found in closing down these websites. Obviously if they have actively helped scammers and money launderers, then it should be closed. Because we don't want such nuisance into crypto market for sure. But what their crime? US government is going on a war against cryptocurrency related businesses it seems. This will force any future businesses to start their operation from a very different country where the law is favorable. US will loose out on it big time.

This is a drop in the sea. Before the whole situation in Ukraine, there were a lot of call centers that deceived people and engaged in fraud. They did not violate the laws of Ukraine and deceived the citizens of Russia and neighboring states. This business served many people who cashed out money, couriers, exchange services and so on.

This happens in most of the countries.  Maybe not call centers.  But there are many scams, they just play different strategies and try out different methods.  Unfortunately there will always be groups of people who try to do harm. ----- This information makes me wonder.  How much distance is there between disrupting 9 Cryptocurrency Exchanges facilitating criminal activity and trying to ban or restrict the use of Decentralized services for the same reason or excuse.  I am all for making things right and fair and if an Exchange was engaging in criminal activity, so be it.  But if we put every piece of the puzzle together and add up all the articles where they seize Chip Mixer, disrupt Cryptocurrency Exchanges .. this can easily become a precedent and they would be just a step away from starting to throw arrows toward the more Decentralized services as well. It seems by the way they formulate things they keep underlining lack of Know Your Customer and Anti Money Laundering procedures.  Now, US is known for being strongly against lack of the two and if they say these Exchanges knowingly allowed criminals on their Exchange and even supported them, they deserve a takedown. You know what would be interesting.  Can any body find any of these Exchanges actively supporting crime on 'forums dedicated to criminal activity' which I suppose are bl### hat forums?

I think that there is not a single crypto-exchange in the world to which criminals did not transfer their coins. According to one analyst, there are a lot of intelligence agencies in the United States, more than 20, and they also have reporting on their activities and funding. Therefore, any exchanger can be held liable under similar articles of the law. It will be necessary to master more than 1 billion of the budget for the fight against these exchangers, everyone will only benefit from this.

There are a lot of blackhat forums that this exchanges could be promoting and that's why majority of us haven't heard of it. And I think this is not the first time that government agencies has this so called disrupt this crypto exchanges that harbor criminals and yet its a cat and mouse game. Maybe the moment that they have been caught and reported, it will be like mushrooms wherein another one will pop up to cater to this criminals and then promoted to this blackhat forums. So we will see how Urkaine or US or any other countries can step up and fight this kind of illicit activities and exchange being used as facilitator.

Of course, I don’t know how such exchangers work in the USA, but my friends say that in the southern states of the USA there are no problems exchanging cryptocurrency for fiat, and even more so in Mexico. If no one was detained, then in a few days or hours new sites will appear. I gave above a link to a site where you can find thousands of such exchangers.

I wonder how the FBI or exchange users got themselves to these unknown exchanges ,because I expected this to be with larger exchanges were liquidity is not a problem and they have a larger userbase...besides you can't hide behind a small exchange because all users are unique and they know the traits of each user and a person can easily be spotted! Btw wonder why these guys didn't simply use a mixer or something if they have the skills to do their illegally sh*t, guess not so smart after all

If this is criminal money, then the details of the drop bank card are indicated during the exchange. In Russia or Ukraine, such a market is very well developed. You do not even need to buy other people's bank cards, intermediaries will cash out your cryptocurrency for 5-7%. The DarkNet is littered with such services.

funny how they all have super shitty names.