Survey: UK authorities have frozen nearly $7.7 million in illegal crypto assets in one year
On March 31st, MailOnline's investigation showed that since April 2024, British authorities have frozen around $7.7 million (£6 million) worth of illegal crypto assets. Last year, the UK revised its regulations, granting special powers to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the police to freeze, seize, and destroy crypto currencies related to crime and criminals. These powers allow the police to freeze crypto wallets for up to three years. Officials can also seize these assets if the court believes the funds are from illegal sources or will be used for criminal purposes. This special power also allows law enforcement agencies to seize any crypto wallets suspected of being linked to criminal organizations without the need for arrest. Authorities are also empowered to destroy these assets if they believe that putting the seized crypto assets back into circulation "is not in the public interest." This may include privacy coins commonly used by criminals to conceal the source of funds. According to court documents analyzed by MailOnline, the largest freeze order was issued against a wallet hosted on Coinbase. The wallet contained tokens worth $1.94 million (£1.5 million). The freeze order was issued by the Tyne River Newcastle Magistrates' Court on March 18th. The fact that the application for the court order was made by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) indicates that the case may be related to tax evasion. The identity of the wallet owner remains a mystery.
Galaxy Digital Settles $200 Million Lawsuit Over LUNA Token Allegations
The focus of the case revolves around allegations that Galaxy Digital, led by founder Michael Novogratz, participated in the promotion and purchase of LUNA tokens at a discounted rate in 2020, sparking interest in the token in the Western market. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that Galaxy Digital bought 18.5 million LUNA tokens from Terraform Labs for $0.22 each, below the market price at the time, contributing to the token's visibility and subsequent price surge. Despite publicly supporting LUNA and Novogratz's pledge to get a tattoo if the token hit $100, Galaxy Digital sold millions of tokens without disclosure, profiting as the price rose. The company had mostly sold its LUNA holdings by the time the Terra ecosystem collapsed in May 2022, while Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon faces multiple fraud charges after being arrested in Montenegro in 2023. The settlement of the $200 million lawsuit against Galaxy Digital highlights the increasing scrutiny on crypto firms involved in the rise and fall of digital assets, emphasizing the potential legal and financial consequences for major crypto investment firms. This resolution with the New York Attorney General could establish a precedent for future actions against firms connected to the failure of other cryptocurrency projects.
Cryptocurrency trader turns $2,000 into $43 million with Pepe memecoin
A cryptocurrency trader with foresight reportedly transformed an investment of $2,000 into more than $43 million by capitalizing on the memecoin Pepe at its peak value, despite the token's high volatility and lack of underlying technical worth. The trader achieved a remarkable return on investment of over 4,700 times on the popular frog-themed Pepe (PEPE) cryptocurrency, as per blockchain intelligence platform Lookonchain. Lookonchain stated, "This original investor only spent $2,184 to acquire 1.5 trillion $PEPE ($43 million at its peak) in the early stages. After selling 1.02 trillion $PEPE for $6.66 million, they were left with 493 billion $PEPE ($3.64 million) and a total profit of $10.3 million (4,718 times)." Source: Lookonchain.
Marathon Digital Seeks $2 Billion to Increase Bitcoin Holdings
Marathon Digital is planning to raise $2 billion through a new offering, following a successful round that raised $1.4 billion to increase its Bitcoin holdings. The company intends to use the funds from the current offering primarily for purchasing more Bitcoin, with 40% allocated for acquisitions, 35% for general corporate needs, and 25% for working capital. The equity sale will be facilitated by investment firms like Barclays and BMO Capital Market, as Marathon continues its strategy of funding Bitcoin acquisition through stock offerings. With a current holding of 46,376 BTC, Marathon aims to secure a strong position in the digital asset space by focusing on acquiring Bitcoin, inspired by strategies seen in companies like MicroStrategy. The decision to buy Bitcoin directly through stock offerings and convertible bonds is in response to challenges in the Bitcoin mining industry, such as rising energy costs and the halving of mining rewards, while also diversifying the company's digital asset portfolio.