US Seizes $1.2 Billion In Crypto Stolen From Binance (cnbc.com) 18
U.S. authorities have seized or restrained more than $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency stolen during Binance's $6 billion October hack, which the FBI attributes to North Korean military-linked hackers known as "TraderTraitor." The DOJ also said it disrupted infrastructure behind the "FaceStealer" deepfake scam, blamed for stealing more than $400 million in cryptocurrency. CNBC reports: Collective efforts between the U.S. government and private sector have resulted in more than $2.7 billion of that amount being frozen. [...] The DOJ said it was taking coordinated action against what it called the North Korean government's "schemes to fund its regime through the massive theft of cryptocurrency." That includes "the court-authorized seizure and restraint of more than $1.2 billion worth of cryptocurrency recently stolen from Binance," it said. DOJ units, law enforcement partners and virtual asset service providers have been working to intercept the stolen assets. But efforts to track and freeze the assets are ongoing, as TraderTraitor actors continue to launder them through various cryptocurrency channels.
Authorities have also seized cloud-based infrastructure used in a massive identity impersonation scam known as "FaceStealer," which has seen more than $400 million worth of cryptocurrency stolen over 18 months, the DOJ said. The scheme sees hackers set up fake video meetings using stolen accounts and recordings of people known to the target by using AI-generated deepfakes. The hackers then say a technical problem requires a fix, install malware on a computer and take over the victim's communications, steal their cryptocurrency and target their contacts -- sometimes months or more than a year after the initial compromise.
Authorities have also seized cloud-based infrastructure used in a massive identity impersonation scam known as "FaceStealer," which has seen more than $400 million worth of cryptocurrency stolen over 18 months, the DOJ said. The scheme sees hackers set up fake video meetings using stolen accounts and recordings of people known to the target by using AI-generated deepfakes. The hackers then say a technical problem requires a fix, install malware on a computer and take over the victim's communications, steal their cryptocurrency and target their contacts -- sometimes months or more than a year after the initial compromise.
How does one "seize" cryptocurrency? (Score:2)
Without the private keys to the wallet in question, how does one simply seize cryptocurrency?
ELI5, please
Re: (Score:2)
It says "court-authorized seizure", "freeze", "intercept the stolen assets". Still not clear.
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There's always the hack that involves a $5 wrench.
"Well... it's just you... and me... *your balls*... and this drawer!"
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It says "court-authorized seizure", "freeze", "intercept the stolen assets". Still not clear.
You hack the place that currently has the wallet that has the currency. You need the court order otherwise hacking (cracking) someone else's computer would be illegal. Methods of hacking would be reasonably standard and would include remote takeover through a vulnerability they know, physically accessing the computer and arresting the person with access to the key.
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Illiteracy is sad, especially here
The third paragraph says "what" and not "how". Not sure if you didn't read the OP's question, or that third paragraph, but I agree illiteracy is sad, especially here.
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Usually you get the people holding it to hand it over, for example another exchange or somebody that got arrested.
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It's amazing what people will give up for a plea bargain.
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Because a lot of these cryptos are Decentralized in name only, the networks can freeze addresses and wallets at will.
They seized it (Score:4, Insightful)
Will they be returning it? Or do Trump and Patel take a percentage first?
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Under President Joe Biden (January 2021 – January 2025), US authorities seized substantial amounts of cryptocurrency, totalling ~149,480 BTC.
But yea - Trump bad; it's slashdot after all....
Some of the top include -
James Zhong / Silk Road (Nov 2021) - 50,676 BTC
Bitfinex hack recovery (Feb 2022) - 94,636 BTC
Empire Market (2022) - 2,814 BTC
Bitcoin Fog (2024) - 1,354 BTC
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Don't be disingenuous; seizing stolen goods is good. Having those goods end up in the pockets of individuals or companies that happen to be pals or relatives of the ones in power is not good.
The takeaway here (Score:2)
The reason they were able to get the money back is because they are getting it back from centralized authorities who control the asset. You might as well just put your money in a bank unless of course you are laundering it because of crime. Which is the real product crypto provides.
Might as well normalize relations with NK (Score:2)
2) Can't sanction them to submission, they have land borders with China and Russia
3) They have officially dropped the goal to re-unify with South Korea
4) That they are communist will not matter after robots/AI start doing all the work - there will be no surplus labor for the capitalists to steal
5) Currently they have nothing to lose, re-integrated in the world economy they might behave better
change (Score:1)
Free Markets for Free Men? (Score:1)
Raison d'etre (Score:2)
Each of these successful efforts chips away at the core rationale of these currencies - or do I have that wrong?