News Heat Trend
Project Overview
Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform that provides data, software, services, and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies in over 70 countries. Its data powers investigation, compliance, and market intelligence software which has been used to solve some of the world's most high-profile criminal cases and facilitate safe consumer access to cryptocurrency.
Coldcard 2021 Firmware Vulnerability Led to Over $100 Million in Bitcoin Theft
Odaily News: A 2021 firmware vulnerability in the hardware wallet Coldcard resulted in insufficient randomness in some recovered seeds. Since July 30, attackers have transferred approximately 1,600 to 1,800 BTC from affected wallets, involving thousands of addresses, with an estimated value exceeding $100 million.Coldcard manufacturer Coinkite stated that it must be assumed that someone used AI to review its public firmware. The vulnerability has existed for about five years, and whether AI was involved in the related attacks has not yet been confirmed.Shielded Labs researcher Taylor Hornby used a Claude Opus 4.8 audit agent and discovered a vulnerability in the Zcash Orchard shielded pool circuit dating back to 2022, which in testing could generate unlimited counterfeit ZEC without a trace. Developers completed the fix within days, and no theft of coins has been confirmed.Statistics from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis show that on-chain writes carrying malware instructions and command-and-control information rose from about 2.06 per day to 11.1 per day, an increase of 440%. (Bitcoin.com News)
Crypto industry stakeholders submit differentiated rule proposals to SEC on novel ETF regulation
Odaily News Crypto enterprises, asset managers, market makers, and consumer advocacy groups have submitted comments to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in response to its request for input on the regulatory framework for "novel ETFs," covering exchange-traded products such as crypto assets, private assets, event contracts, and leveraged strategies.Crypto industry organization Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) recommended extending certain regulatory accommodations applicable to ETFs to non-ETF exchange-traded products. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (A16z) stated that the SEC should assess products based on their underlying assets and risk profiles, rather than treating all novel ETFs as a single category.Grayscale opposed adding new portfolio restrictions for mature digital asset products, while Chainalysis suggested leveraging public blockchains to enable real-time monitoring and verifiable disclosures. Kalshi expressed support for including event contracts in registered funds, whereas consumer advocacy group Public Citizen opposed offering event contract ETFs to retail investors. The SEC will evaluate whether to adopt a unified regulatory framework or craft separate rules based on product structure and risk. (Decrypt)
Iranian Rial Hits Record Low, US Sanctions Target Digital Assets for First Time
According to Odaily, the Iranian rial hit a record low this week, with the open market exchange rate falling to approximately 2.02 million rials per US dollar on August 24, compared to around 1.53 million rials in the first quarter. During the same period, the US government launched "Operation Economic Exodus," adding more than 60 entities to the Treasury Department's blacklist and, for the first time, designating digital assets as a sanctionable category.State-controlled farms linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) control approximately 65% of Iran's Bitcoin mining capacity. Iranian miners have accounted for roughly 3% to 7% of global Bitcoin hashrate since 2019, with the mined Bitcoin valued at an estimated $1.35 billion to $3.15 billion at various stages.Iran legalized Bitcoin mining in 2019, allowing licensed operators to use industrial electricity at approximately $0.004 per kilowatt-hour and sell the mined tokens to the Central Bank of Iran. Chainalysis estimates that IRGC-affiliated wallets received over $3 billion in Q4 2025; Elliptic states that the Central Bank of Iran holds at least $507 million in USDT.The US Treasury sanctioned Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin, and Ramzinex in June. Nobitex had processed more than half of Iran's digital asset inflows; in April, the US Treasury seized nearly $500 million in Iran-linked crypto assets. (Bitcoin.com News)
Crypto Violent Heists Exceed $30 Million in 2026, France Becomes a Hard-Hit Area
According to The Block, data from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis shows that violent robberies targeting cryptocurrency holders in the first half of 2026 have resulted in losses exceeding $30 million. If the trend continues in the second half, the full-year total will surpass the historical peak of $58 million in 2025. France has become the world's largest "Wrench Attack" hotspot, with 30 public cases recorded in the first half of 2026, while the French Minister of the Interior stated that actual cases exceed 70. Chainalysis attributes this to the 2024 French tax authority data breach—a tax official was suspected of stealing and selling the names, addresses, holdings, and tax records of high-net-worth crypto holders, causing the attack frequency to surge from a monthly average of 1.9 in 2025 to a monthly average of 4.6 in the first half of 2026. Attack methods have also deteriorated; cases targeting family members rather than the holders themselves now account for over 40% of French cases, and the proportion of home invasions rose from 14% in 2025 to 37%. Stolen funds are typically quickly moved on-chain, with some laundered through tools such as decentralized exchanges and cross-chain bridges; advanced criminal networks are even linked to cartel money laundering and terrorist financing channels.
South Africa’s Crypto Economy Grows 52% Over the Past Year to $39.3 Billion; Cross-Border Regulatory Draft May Be Revised
According to BeInCrypto, Chainalysis data shows that over the year ending June 2026, the South African crypto economy expanded by 52% to $39.3 billion, with increases across all tracked activity categories. Commercial payments, including those from South African merchants and P2P traders, reached $8.34 billion, outpacing institutional activity ($1.29 billion in inflows); stablecoin inflows through Sub-Saharan African P2P channels totaled $14.6 billion, on par with Bitcoin. A draft regulatory framework for crypto asset management released by the South African Treasury and Reserve Bank (SARB) on August 3 would stipulate that individuals may only transfer crypto assets abroad through authorized local service providers within existing foreign exchange limits, while businesses are prohibited from cross-border transfers of crypto assets. As of March 31, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) had issued licenses to 310 crypto asset service providers, though these entities must still secure separate authorization from the SARB. On October 21, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stated that after receiving thousands of public submissions, the Treasury will aim to release a revised second draft, with no timeline currently announced.
Bithumb's Administrative Lawsuit Holds First Hearing, Citing Regulatory Gap for Transfers Under 1 Million Won
According to reports by Korean media outlet Digital Asset, the Second Division of the Seoul Administrative Court held its first hearing on Oct. 22 regarding the administrative lawsuit between Bithumb and Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The FIU found that Bithumb conducted 45,772 transfers with 18 unregistered crypto asset operators between August 28, 2022, and April 3, 2025, and accordingly issued penalties, which included a partial suspension restricting new customers from transferring crypto assets externally for six months. Bithumb stated during the hearing that transfers of 1 million KRW or above are subject to the "travel rule," and since unregistered operators have been removed from the list of eligible exchanges, there were zero non-compliant outbound transfers in that tier. Transfers under 1 million KRW were not covered by the travel rule at the time; thus, the platform had no legal basis to demand that customers provide recipient exchange details, nor did regulators specify clear blocking protocols. Bithumb also noted that after implementing the Chainalysis API, only about 2% of initially unverifiable addresses were later identified as FIU-designated unregistered operators. Enforcing blanket blocks would disrupt the remaining 98% of legitimate transactions, potentially exposing the platform to customer compensation claims. Bithumb further argued that the six-month penalty is excessively severe and practically amounts to banning the platform from acquiring new customers. The company also challenged the FIU's criteria for classifying overseas operators and the grounds for the...
Binance and Coinbase Participate in West African Anti-Fraud Operation, Helping Identify Over $11 Million in Funds Pending Freeze
Odaily report: According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement, law enforcement authorities in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people in a joint operation targeting West African fraud networks, involving criminal activities such as cryptocurrency investment fraud. The operation was led by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), with participation from Binance, Coinbase, and blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs. Private-sector partners collectively identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen, though the amount has not yet been confirmed as recovered assets.Coinbase stated that it assisted in tracking illicit funds, supporting asset freezes, and providing intelligence to investigators, identifying more than 65 victims still being defrauded and helping prevent over $415,000 in potential losses. During the operation, Ghanaian police arrested 19 people and seized 303 electronic devices, while another 9 people were arrested in Nigeria. Additionally, 117 human trafficking victims in Ghana are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, and participants also provided law enforcement with leads on more than 30 suspected fraud centers. The U.S. Department of Justice said this was the first joint operation of its kind specifically targeting the West African region. (CoinDesk)
31.4% Capital Gains Tax Proposed to Cover Stablecoin Conversions as French Parliament Passes Related Amendment
Odaily Report: On October 16, the French National Assembly passed Amendment I-3898 to the 2027 budget bill, which proposes that starting January 1, 2027, transactions converting crypto assets into e-money tokens under the MiCA framework be included in the scope of capital gains taxation, with related gains subject to a flat tax rate of 31.4%, and a tax liability triggered even without conversion into euros. The measure covers stablecoins such as USDC and EURC; Chainalysis analysis shows that USDT is not covered by this measure. The amendment still requires subsequent budget votes and Senate review and has not yet formally become law.
France plans to levy a 31.4% capital gains tax on MiCA stablecoins, as Chainalysis warns it could trigger capital outflows.
According to CoinDesk, the French National Assembly is deliberating on the 2027 budget, which features an amendment proposing to subject stablecoins regulated under the EU’s MiCA framework (e-money tokens) to capital gains tax at a rate of 31.4%, effective January 1, 2027. Currently, France only levies taxes when cryptocurrencies are exchanged for fiat currency or used for purchases, whereas swapping between crypto assets does not trigger tax obligations. François Volpoet, CEO of Chainalysis France, cautioned that this policy could incentivize traders to migrate to regulatory blind spots like DeFi platforms or self-custody wallets, ultimately eroding the tax base. Furthermore, the parliamentary finance committee has adopted two additional proposals: one requiring the disclosure of self-custody wallets holding more than €100,000, with fines capped at approximately $11,600 for violations; and another extending the outbound transfer tax to crypto holdings exceeding roughly $900,000. These measures remain unenacted, with parliament scheduled to vote on the revenue articles on October 20.
Armed Robbery in Pattaya, Thailand: Three Gunmen Force Chinese National to Transfer $820,000 in Cryptocurrency
Odaily News: An armed robbery occurred at a luxury residence near Pattaya, Thailand, where three armed individuals broke into a gated community and took control of a Chinese national holding Turkish citizenship, forcing him to open a safe and hand over cash and 3 luxury watches.The attackers also forced the victim at gunpoint to transfer $820,000 worth of cryptocurrency to one of their wallets, which was immediately sold afterward. After escaping, the victim reported the incident to the police, who have not yet confirmed the nationalities of the three suspects.Police Region 2 has launched an investigation and identified the getaway vehicle through surveillance footage; the vehicle was later abandoned in a remote area. Police are tracking the sold digital assets to identify the relevant accounts and recover the funds. Chainalysis estimates that over $30 million in cryptocurrency has been stolen in such violent robberies in the first half of 2026. (Bitcoin.com News)
Analysis: Binance Hack May Inadvertently Halt VC and Project Token Sell-Offs
Odaily reports: Some market observers suggest that following the approximately $6.3 billion hack on Binance, project teams, VCs, and associated wallets may temporarily hold off on selling their altcoin holdings. In the coming days, funds, insiders, and project-affiliated wallets may exercise greater caution before selling tokens into the market to avoid further exacerbating selling pressure.Blockchain analytics firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis have both attributed the attack to North Korea with high confidence. Binance has committed to covering user losses through its protection fund and company resources, and approximately $3 billion in stolen assets have been located, with about half frozen through stablecoin issuers such as Tether and Circle. Market analysts note that the incident has once again sparked discussions around the security of centralized trading platforms, the freezing capabilities of stablecoins, and the difficulty of tracking decentralized assets. (zerohedge)
South Africa’s Crypto Economy Grows 52% Over the Past Year to $39.3 Billion; Cross-Border Regulatory Draft May Be Revised
According to BeInCrypto, Chainalysis data shows that over the year ending June 2026, the South African crypto economy expanded by 52% to $39.3 billion, with increases across all tracked activity categories. Commercial payments, including those from South African merchants and P2P traders, reached $8.34 billion, outpacing institutional activity ($1.29 billion in inflows); stablecoin inflows through Sub-Saharan African P2P channels totaled $14.6 billion, on par with Bitcoin. A draft regulatory framework for crypto asset management released by the South African Treasury and Reserve Bank (SARB) on August 3 would stipulate that individuals may only transfer crypto assets abroad through authorized local service providers within existing foreign exchange limits, while businesses are prohibited from cross-border transfers of crypto assets. As of March 31, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) had issued licenses to 310 crypto asset service providers, though these entities must still secure separate authorization from the SARB. On October 21, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stated that after receiving thousands of public submissions, the Treasury will aim to release a revised second draft, with no timeline currently announced.
Bithumb's Administrative Lawsuit Holds First Hearing, Citing Regulatory Gap for Transfers Under 1 Million Won
According to reports by Korean media outlet Digital Asset, the Second Division of the Seoul Administrative Court held its first hearing on Oct. 22 regarding the administrative lawsuit between Bithumb and Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The FIU found that Bithumb conducted 45,772 transfers with 18 unregistered crypto asset operators between August 28, 2022, and April 3, 2025, and accordingly issued penalties, which included a partial suspension restricting new customers from transferring crypto assets externally for six months. Bithumb stated during the hearing that transfers of 1 million KRW or above are subject to the "travel rule," and since unregistered operators have been removed from the list of eligible exchanges, there were zero non-compliant outbound transfers in that tier. Transfers under 1 million KRW were not covered by the travel rule at the time; thus, the platform had no legal basis to demand that customers provide recipient exchange details, nor did regulators specify clear blocking protocols. Bithumb also noted that after implementing the Chainalysis API, only about 2% of initially unverifiable addresses were later identified as FIU-designated unregistered operators. Enforcing blanket blocks would disrupt the remaining 98% of legitimate transactions, potentially exposing the platform to customer compensation claims. Bithumb further argued that the six-month penalty is excessively severe and practically amounts to banning the platform from acquiring new customers. The company also challenged the FIU's criteria for classifying overseas operators and the grounds for the...
A crypto scammer targeted by Ledger spy chip attack loses 60 BTC
According to CoinDesk, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis disclosed on Thursday on X that a cryptocurrency scammer who profited from a "task scam" (luring victims with paid review boosting or order brushing, then demanding account top-ups under the guise of a "negative balance") transferred the illicit proceeds to three Ledger hardware wallet addresses. These addresses were subsequently drained by attackers, resulting in a total loss of 60 BTC valued at over $4.9 million, making it one of the biggest victims in this Ledger device intrusion incident.
Chainalysis: US bitcoin turns to net inflow in 2026, marking the first time since 2022
According to Bitcoin Magazine, Chainalysis' latest report indicates that the United States became a net inflow country for bitcoin in 2026, marking the first time since 2022. The report notes that US institutional investors have continuously purchased bitcoin this year, while retail investors as a whole have predominantly sold. Chainalysis stated that since the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in 2024, the US share of global bitcoin activity has consistently risen in each statistical period. Meanwhile, the scale of the US crypto economy is approximately $2.78 trillion, down 2.2% from prior levels. In the stablecoin sector, USD stablecoins continue to expand their usage in overseas payments, peer-to-peer transactions, and cross-border business activities.
Armed Robbery in Pattaya, Thailand: Three Gunmen Force Chinese National to Transfer $820,000 in Cryptocurrency
Odaily News: An armed robbery occurred at a luxury residence near Pattaya, Thailand, where three armed individuals broke into a gated community and took control of a Chinese national holding Turkish citizenship, forcing him to open a safe and hand over cash and 3 luxury watches.The attackers also forced the victim at gunpoint to transfer $820,000 worth of cryptocurrency to one of their wallets, which was immediately sold afterward. After escaping, the victim reported the incident to the police, who have not yet confirmed the nationalities of the three suspects.Police Region 2 has launched an investigation and identified the getaway vehicle through surveillance footage; the vehicle was later abandoned in a remote area. Police are tracking the sold digital assets to identify the relevant accounts and recover the funds. Chainalysis estimates that over $30 million in cryptocurrency has been stolen in such violent robberies in the first half of 2026. (Bitcoin.com News)
Analysis: After the Binance Hack, Bitcoin Fell Only About 2%, Far Below the 26% Drop After FTX
21Shares has released an analysis report on the Binance hack, stating that on October 29, Binance suffered an attack of approximately $6.3 billion, of which about $3 billion in stolen assets have now been frozen, and Binance has committed to bearing all losses. Within 24 hours after the incident, Bitcoin fell slightly more than 2%, significantly lower than the roughly 26% decline Bitcoin experienced after the FTX incident in November 2022. 221Shares emphasized that this incident was a security breach affecting Binance as a single company, and that the Bitcoin network itself was not attacked. Binance stated that it will cover all losses through the SAFU fund and corporate funds. Calculated at a Bitcoin price of approximately $78,509, the 15,000 BTC held by the SAFU fund is worth about $1.18 billion, which can cover about 36% of the losses on unfrozen assets, with the remaining portion to be borne by corporate funds. The report also mentioned that Chainalysis has high confidence that the attack is linked to North Korea, but Binance and government agencies have not yet officially confirmed the attribution.In addition, 21Shares stated that the assets of its physically backed ETPs and ETFs are held in cold storage by third-party custodians such as BitGo, Coinbase Custody, Anchorage Digital, and Zodia Custody, and are not kept in exchange accounts. Therefore, they were not affected by this incident, and all of the company's products are trading normally.
Analysis: Binance Hack May Inadvertently Halt VC and Project Token Sell-Offs
Odaily reports: Some market observers suggest that following the approximately $6.3 billion hack on Binance, project teams, VCs, and associated wallets may temporarily hold off on selling their altcoin holdings. In the coming days, funds, insiders, and project-affiliated wallets may exercise greater caution before selling tokens into the market to avoid further exacerbating selling pressure.Blockchain analytics firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis have both attributed the attack to North Korea with high confidence. Binance has committed to covering user losses through its protection fund and company resources, and approximately $3 billion in stolen assets have been located, with about half frozen through stablecoin issuers such as Tether and Circle. Market analysts note that the incident has once again sparked discussions around the security of centralized trading platforms, the freezing capabilities of stablecoins, and the difficulty of tracking decentralized assets. (zerohedge)
A crypto scammer targeted by Ledger spy chip attack loses 60 BTC
According to CoinDesk, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis disclosed on Thursday on X that a cryptocurrency scammer who profited from a "task scam" (luring victims with paid review boosting or order brushing, then demanding account top-ups under the guise of a "negative balance") transferred the illicit proceeds to three Ledger hardware wallet addresses. These addresses were subsequently drained by attackers, resulting in a total loss of 60 BTC valued at over $4.9 million, making it one of the biggest victims in this Ledger device intrusion incident.
Asia Leads Crypto Adoption Index, Bitget Loses $350 Million
Chainalysis data shows 9 Asian countries rank in the top 20 globally for crypto adoption; Bitget confirms $350 million was stolen, with the user protection fund covering the losses.
Coldcard 2021 Firmware Vulnerability Led to Over $100 Million in Bitcoin Theft
Odaily News: A 2021 firmware vulnerability in the hardware wallet Coldcard resulted in insufficient randomness in some recovered seeds. Since July 30, attackers have transferred approximately 1,600 to 1,800 BTC from affected wallets, involving thousands of addresses, with an estimated value exceeding $100 million.Coldcard manufacturer Coinkite stated that it must be assumed that someone used AI to review its public firmware. The vulnerability has existed for about five years, and whether AI was involved in the related attacks has not yet been confirmed.Shielded Labs researcher Taylor Hornby used a Claude Opus 4.8 audit agent and discovered a vulnerability in the Zcash Orchard shielded pool circuit dating back to 2022, which in testing could generate unlimited counterfeit ZEC without a trace. Developers completed the fix within days, and no theft of coins has been confirmed.Statistics from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis show that on-chain writes carrying malware instructions and command-and-control information rose from about 2.06 per day to 11.1 per day, an increase of 440%. (Bitcoin.com News)
Data: Cases of hackers using open-source AI to implant malicious on-chain instructions increased by 440% in a year
Odaily reports: Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has released a report stating that hackers are increasingly leveraging open-source artificial intelligence (AI) to implant malware control instructions into on-chain transactions and smart contracts, with such cases surging approximately 440% in less than a year. Data shows that these incidents have risen from roughly 2 per day to approximately 11 per day. Attackers write malicious instructions on-chain to manipulate infected devices into stealing passwords and funds, and redirect assets to designated wallets; since on-chain records cannot be deleted, defense and interception are becoming increasingly difficult.The report notes that state-sponsored hackers from countries such as North Korea and Iran have become the primary drivers of such activity. Open-source models support local independent operation and modification, allowing them to directly bypass cloud-based defenses. However, the public and transparent nature of blockchain also leaves critical evidence for tracing attack infrastructure. (Bloomberg)
Analysis: After the Binance Hack, Bitcoin Fell Only About 2%, Far Below the 26% Drop After FTX
21Shares has released an analysis report on the Binance hack, stating that on October 29, Binance suffered an attack of approximately $6.3 billion, of which about $3 billion in stolen assets have now been frozen, and Binance has committed to bearing all losses. Within 24 hours after the incident, Bitcoin fell slightly more than 2%, significantly lower than the roughly 26% decline Bitcoin experienced after the FTX incident in November 2022. 221Shares emphasized that this incident was a security breach affecting Binance as a single company, and that the Bitcoin network itself was not attacked. Binance stated that it will cover all losses through the SAFU fund and corporate funds. Calculated at a Bitcoin price of approximately $78,509, the 15,000 BTC held by the SAFU fund is worth about $1.18 billion, which can cover about 36% of the losses on unfrozen assets, with the remaining portion to be borne by corporate funds. The report also mentioned that Chainalysis has high confidence that the attack is linked to North Korea, but Binance and government agencies have not yet officially confirmed the attribution.In addition, 21Shares stated that the assets of its physically backed ETPs and ETFs are held in cold storage by third-party custodians such as BitGo, Coinbase Custody, Anchorage Digital, and Zodia Custody, and are not kept in exchange accounts. Therefore, they were not affected by this incident, and all of the company's products are trading normally.
South Africa’s Crypto Economy Grows 52% Over the Past Year to $39.3 Billion; Cross-Border Regulatory Draft May Be Revised
According to BeInCrypto, Chainalysis data shows that over the year ending June 2026, the South African crypto economy expanded by 52% to $39.3 billion, with increases across all tracked activity categories. Commercial payments, including those from South African merchants and P2P traders, reached $8.34 billion, outpacing institutional activity ($1.29 billion in inflows); stablecoin inflows through Sub-Saharan African P2P channels totaled $14.6 billion, on par with Bitcoin. A draft regulatory framework for crypto asset management released by the South African Treasury and Reserve Bank (SARB) on August 3 would stipulate that individuals may only transfer crypto assets abroad through authorized local service providers within existing foreign exchange limits, while businesses are prohibited from cross-border transfers of crypto assets. As of March 31, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) had issued licenses to 310 crypto asset service providers, though these entities must still secure separate authorization from the SARB. On October 21, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stated that after receiving thousands of public submissions, the Treasury will aim to release a revised second draft, with no timeline currently announced.
Tether Partners with Kraken, Bybit and Others to Establish FASE Foundation, Aims to Provide Humanitarian Aid to Up to 1 Million People via Stablecoins
Odaily Report: Tether has announced the establishment of FASE (Financial Access and Systemic Empowerment Foundation), a Swiss nonprofit foundation focused on four key areas: financial security, financial inclusion, access to resources, and responsible AI and robotics technology. Founding parties include Tether, Kraken, Bybit, the Solana Foundation, Chainalysis, and Anchorage Digital, among other institutions.FASE's first batch of projects includes a partnership with youth platform Goodwall, planning to provide digital education and anti-fraud tools to up to 10 million young people, with a focus on Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia; and a pilot with Prosper Global to distribute humanitarian aid via stablecoins, initially covering up to 1 million people.In addition, FASE will collaborate with the United Nations Trust Fund to support civil society organizations in multiple African countries that provide assistance to survivors of human trafficking.
Binance and Coinbase Participate in West African Anti-Fraud Operation, Helping Identify Over $11 Million in Funds Pending Freeze
Odaily report: According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement, law enforcement authorities in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people in a joint operation targeting West African fraud networks, involving criminal activities such as cryptocurrency investment fraud. The operation was led by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), with participation from Binance, Coinbase, and blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs. Private-sector partners collectively identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen, though the amount has not yet been confirmed as recovered assets.Coinbase stated that it assisted in tracking illicit funds, supporting asset freezes, and providing intelligence to investigators, identifying more than 65 victims still being defrauded and helping prevent over $415,000 in potential losses. During the operation, Ghanaian police arrested 19 people and seized 303 electronic devices, while another 9 people were arrested in Nigeria. Additionally, 117 human trafficking victims in Ghana are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, and participants also provided law enforcement with leads on more than 30 suspected fraud centers. The U.S. Department of Justice said this was the first joint operation of its kind specifically targeting the West African region. (CoinDesk)
Chainalysis: US bitcoin turns to net inflow in 2026, marking the first time since 2022
According to Bitcoin Magazine, Chainalysis' latest report indicates that the United States became a net inflow country for bitcoin in 2026, marking the first time since 2022. The report notes that US institutional investors have continuously purchased bitcoin this year, while retail investors as a whole have predominantly sold. Chainalysis stated that since the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in 2024, the US share of global bitcoin activity has consistently risen in each statistical period. Meanwhile, the scale of the US crypto economy is approximately $2.78 trillion, down 2.2% from prior levels. In the stablecoin sector, USD stablecoins continue to expand their usage in overseas payments, peer-to-peer transactions, and cross-border business activities.
Chainalysis: Global Crypto Taxable Activity Hits $457 Billion, Stablecoin Payment Flows Account for Largest Share
Chainalysis has released its "Crypto Tax Report: Select Country Data," estimating global crypto-related taxable activity at approximately $457 billion, covering trading gains, on-chain income, and digital payments.The report states that it uses on-chain data to map these activities by region and country, providing tax authorities with a geolocated view of potential taxable activity within their jurisdictions. Among these, stablecoin payment flows represent the largest and most globally distributed category. The report also analyzes cross-border channels and their impact on direct and indirect tax obligations, and demonstrates how on-chain intelligence can help tax authorities identify high-value, high-risk wallets to determine enforcement priorities.
Related news
Analysis: After the Binance Hack, Bitcoin Fell Only About 2%, Far Below the 26% Drop After FTX
21Shares has released an analysis report on the Binance hack, stating that on October 29, Binance suffered an attack of approximately $6.3 billion, of which about $3 billion in stolen assets have now been frozen, and Binance has committed to bearing all losses. Within 24 hours after the incident, Bitcoin fell slightly more than 2%, significantly lower than the roughly 26% decline Bitcoin experienced after the FTX incident in November 2022. 221Shares emphasized that this incident was a security breach affecting Binance as a single company, and that the Bitcoin network itself was not attacked. Binance stated that it will cover all losses through the SAFU fund and corporate funds. Calculated at a Bitcoin price of approximately $78,509, the 15,000 BTC held by the SAFU fund is worth about $1.18 billion, which can cover about 36% of the losses on unfrozen assets, with the remaining portion to be borne by corporate funds. The report also mentioned that Chainalysis has high confidence that the attack is linked to North Korea, but Binance and government agencies have not yet officially confirmed the attribution.In addition, 21Shares stated that the assets of its physically backed ETPs and ETFs are held in cold storage by third-party custodians such as BitGo, Coinbase Custody, Anchorage Digital, and Zodia Custody, and are not kept in exchange accounts. Therefore, they were not affected by this incident, and all of the company's products are trading normally.
Analysis: Binance Hack May Inadvertently Halt VC and Project Token Sell-Offs
Odaily reports: Some market observers suggest that following the approximately $6.3 billion hack on Binance, project teams, VCs, and associated wallets may temporarily hold off on selling their altcoin holdings. In the coming days, funds, insiders, and project-affiliated wallets may exercise greater caution before selling tokens into the market to avoid further exacerbating selling pressure.Blockchain analytics firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis have both attributed the attack to North Korea with high confidence. Binance has committed to covering user losses through its protection fund and company resources, and approximately $3 billion in stolen assets have been located, with about half frozen through stablecoin issuers such as Tether and Circle. Market analysts note that the incident has once again sparked discussions around the security of centralized trading platforms, the freezing capabilities of stablecoins, and the difficulty of tracking decentralized assets. (zerohedge)
South Africa’s Crypto Economy Grows 52% Over the Past Year to $39.3 Billion; Cross-Border Regulatory Draft May Be Revised
According to BeInCrypto, Chainalysis data shows that over the year ending June 2026, the South African crypto economy expanded by 52% to $39.3 billion, with increases across all tracked activity categories. Commercial payments, including those from South African merchants and P2P traders, reached $8.34 billion, outpacing institutional activity ($1.29 billion in inflows); stablecoin inflows through Sub-Saharan African P2P channels totaled $14.6 billion, on par with Bitcoin. A draft regulatory framework for crypto asset management released by the South African Treasury and Reserve Bank (SARB) on August 3 would stipulate that individuals may only transfer crypto assets abroad through authorized local service providers within existing foreign exchange limits, while businesses are prohibited from cross-border transfers of crypto assets. As of March 31, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) had issued licenses to 310 crypto asset service providers, though these entities must still secure separate authorization from the SARB. On October 21, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stated that after receiving thousands of public submissions, the Treasury will aim to release a revised second draft, with no timeline currently announced.
Tether Partners with Kraken, Bybit and Others to Establish FASE Foundation, Aims to Provide Humanitarian Aid to Up to 1 Million People via Stablecoins
Odaily Report: Tether has announced the establishment of FASE (Financial Access and Systemic Empowerment Foundation), a Swiss nonprofit foundation focused on four key areas: financial security, financial inclusion, access to resources, and responsible AI and robotics technology. Founding parties include Tether, Kraken, Bybit, the Solana Foundation, Chainalysis, and Anchorage Digital, among other institutions.FASE's first batch of projects includes a partnership with youth platform Goodwall, planning to provide digital education and anti-fraud tools to up to 10 million young people, with a focus on Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia; and a pilot with Prosper Global to distribute humanitarian aid via stablecoins, initially covering up to 1 million people.In addition, FASE will collaborate with the United Nations Trust Fund to support civil society organizations in multiple African countries that provide assistance to survivors of human trafficking.
Bithumb's Administrative Lawsuit Holds First Hearing, Citing Regulatory Gap for Transfers Under 1 Million Won
According to reports by Korean media outlet Digital Asset, the Second Division of the Seoul Administrative Court held its first hearing on Oct. 22 regarding the administrative lawsuit between Bithumb and Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The FIU found that Bithumb conducted 45,772 transfers with 18 unregistered crypto asset operators between August 28, 2022, and April 3, 2025, and accordingly issued penalties, which included a partial suspension restricting new customers from transferring crypto assets externally for six months. Bithumb stated during the hearing that transfers of 1 million KRW or above are subject to the "travel rule," and since unregistered operators have been removed from the list of eligible exchanges, there were zero non-compliant outbound transfers in that tier. Transfers under 1 million KRW were not covered by the travel rule at the time; thus, the platform had no legal basis to demand that customers provide recipient exchange details, nor did regulators specify clear blocking protocols. Bithumb also noted that after implementing the Chainalysis API, only about 2% of initially unverifiable addresses were later identified as FIU-designated unregistered operators. Enforcing blanket blocks would disrupt the remaining 98% of legitimate transactions, potentially exposing the platform to customer compensation claims. Bithumb further argued that the six-month penalty is excessively severe and practically amounts to banning the platform from acquiring new customers. The company also challenged the FIU's criteria for classifying overseas operators and the grounds for the...
Binance and Coinbase Participate in West African Anti-Fraud Operation, Helping Identify Over $11 Million in Funds Pending Freeze
Odaily report: According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement, law enforcement authorities in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people in a joint operation targeting West African fraud networks, involving criminal activities such as cryptocurrency investment fraud. The operation was led by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), with participation from Binance, Coinbase, and blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs. Private-sector partners collectively identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen, though the amount has not yet been confirmed as recovered assets.Coinbase stated that it assisted in tracking illicit funds, supporting asset freezes, and providing intelligence to investigators, identifying more than 65 victims still being defrauded and helping prevent over $415,000 in potential losses. During the operation, Ghanaian police arrested 19 people and seized 303 electronic devices, while another 9 people were arrested in Nigeria. Additionally, 117 human trafficking victims in Ghana are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, and participants also provided law enforcement with leads on more than 30 suspected fraud centers. The U.S. Department of Justice said this was the first joint operation of its kind specifically targeting the West African region. (CoinDesk)