Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Report
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Banking on Bitcoin: BTC As Collateral
Banking on Bitcoin: BTC as Collateral Arcane Research Bitstamp Arcane Research is a part of Arcane Crypto, Bitstamp is the world’s longest-running bringing data-driven analysis and research cryptocurrency exchange, supporting to the cryptocurrency space. After launch in investors, traders and leading financial August 2019, Arcane Research has become institutions since 2011. With a proven track a trusted brand, helping clients strengthen record, cutting-edge market infrastructure their credibility and visibility through and dedication to personal service with a research reports and analysis. In addition, human touch, Bitstamp’s secure and reliable we regularly publish reports, weekly market trading venue is trusted by over four million updates and articles to educate and share customers worldwide. Whether it’s through insights. their intuitive web platform and mobile app or industry-leading APIs, Bitstamp is where crypto enters the world of finance. For more information, visit www.bitstamp.net 2 Banking on Bitcoin: BTC as Collateral Banking on bitcoin The case for bitcoin as collateral The value of the global market for collateral is estimated to be close to $20 trillion in assets. Government bonds and cash-based securities alike are currently the most important parts of a well- functioning collateral market. However, in that, there is a growing weakness as rehypothecation creates a systemic risk in the financial system as a whole. The increasing reuse of collateral makes these assets far from risk-free and shows the potential instability of the financial markets and that it is more fragile than many would like to admit. Bitcoin could become an important part of the solution and challenge the dominating collateral assets in the future. -
Is Bitcoin Really Untethered?
THE JOURNAL OF FINANCE • VOL. LXXV, NO. 4 • AUGUST 2020 Is Bitcoin Really Untethered? JOHN M. GRIFFIN and AMIN SHAMS∗ ABSTRACT This paper investigates whether Tether, a digital currency pegged to the U.S. dollar, influenced Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices during the 2017 boom. Using al- gorithms to analyze blockchain data, we find that purchases with Tether are timed following market downturns and result in sizable increases in Bitcoin prices. The flow is attributable to one entity, clusters below round prices, induces asymmetric auto- correlations in Bitcoin, and suggests insufficient Tether reserves before month-ends. Rather than demand from cash investors, these patterns are most consistent with the supply-based hypothesis of unbacked digital money inflating cryptocurrency prices. INNOVATION, EXCESSIVE SPECULATION, AND DUBIOUS behavior are often closely linked. Periods of extreme price increases followed by implosion, commonly known as “bubbles,” are often associated with legitimate inventions, technolo- gies, or opportunities. However, they can be carried to excess. In particu- lar, financial bubbles often coincide with the belief that a rapid gain can be ∗John M. Griffin is at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. Amin Shams is at the Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University. Helpful comments were received from Stefan Nagel (the editor); an associate editor; two anonymous referees; Cesare Fracassi; Sam Kruger; Shaun MaGruder; Gregor Matvos; Nikolai Roussanov; Clemens Sialm; and seminar and conference -
The Basics of Cryptocurrency February 2021
The Basics of Cryptocurrency February 2021 © 2021 What Is Cryptocurrency? The Basics of Cryptocurrency Key Players www.onepagethinking.net Overview Fiat Currency Cryptocurrency Uses of Crypto Blockchain Digital Wallet Cryptocurrency Network Investors Cryptocurrency (crypto) is a digital currency A way to understand cryptocurrency and its Crypto uses encryption technology to quickly Two common transactions Each crypto transaction is communicated to all participating peer-to-peer (P2P) computers Crypto is stored in that can be used to buy goods and services. It vocabulary is to compare it to the U.S. dollar. process, secure, and verify transactions. involve crypto: (1) the use of (nodes) in the crypto network. Each P2P node verifies the transaction according to network a digital wallet, Computer Network Storage Role: Safekeeping of Market Operators Influencers and Investors uses an online ledger and encryption to U.S currency is issued by the Federal Reserve Each transaction conducted in crypto is crypto to buy and sell goods and rules. A group of verified transactions form a block (like a link in a chain) which is added to secured by a 24- of Miners Role: Facilitate Efficient Role: Promote Investment Role: Mine and Validate Blocks, Add Digital Wallet and Private Key secure transactions. Bitcoin was released in System (a central bank), and as such is called published in a ledger (the “blockchain”) that is services, and (2) the acquisition the blockchain by the miner who wins a “guessing game” built into the system. Miners are word private key. Exchange of Cryptocurrency In, and Adoption of, Cryptocurrency (i.e., Owner’s Password) 2009 as open-source software, developed by “fiat” currency. -
A Cryptocurrency Spectrum Short Analysis
Journal of Risk and Financial Management Review A Cryptocurrency Spectrum Short Analysis 1 2 3 Mircea Constantin S, cheau , Simona Liliana Crăciunescu , Iulia Brici and Monica Violeta Achim 3,* 1 Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania; [email protected] 2 Simona Liliana Crăciunescu, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania; [email protected] 3 Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babes, -Bolyai University, 400591 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 30 June 2020; Accepted: 11 August 2020; Published: 17 August 2020 Abstract: Technological development brings about economic changes that affect most citizens, both in developed and undeveloped countries. The implementation of blockchain technologies that bring cryptocurrencies into the economy and everyday life also induce risks. Authorities are continuously concerned about ensuring balance, which is, among other things, a prudent attitude. Achieving this goal sometimes requires the development of standards and regulations applicable at the national or global level. This paper attempts to dive deeper into the worldwide operations, related to cryptocurrencies, as part of a general phenomenon, and also expose some of the intersections with cybercrime. Without impeding creativity, implementing suggested proposals must comply with the rules in effect and provide sufficient flexibility for adapting and integrating them. Different segments need to align or reposition, as alteration is only allowed in a positive way. Adopting cryptocurrency decisions should be unitary, based on standard policies. Keywords: cryptocurrencies; fraud; algorithms; correlations; impact; risks; regulation; blockchain 1. Introduction In the area of influence of computer science, the terms undergo rapid mutations, both in sense and interpretability. -
The Bitcoin Trading Ecosystem
ArcaneReport(PrintReady).qxp 21/07/2021 14:43 Page 1 THE INSTITUTIONAL CRYPTO CURRENCY EXCHANGE INSIDE FRONT COVER: BLANK ArcaneReport(PrintReady).qxp 21/07/2021 14:43 Page 3 The Bitcoin Trading Ecosystem Arcane Research LMAX Digital Arcane Research is a part of Arcane Crypto, bringing LMAX Digital is the leading institutional spot data-driven analysis and research to the cryptocurrency exchange, run by the LMAX Group, cryptocurrency space. After launch in August 2019, which also operates several leading FCA regulated Arcane Research has become a trusted brand, trading venues for FX, metals and indices. Based on helping clients strengthen their credibility and proven, proprietary technology from LMAX Group, visibility through research reports and analysis. In LMAX Digital allows global institutions to acquire, addition, we regularly publish reports, weekly market trade and hold the most liquid digital assets, Bitcoin, updates and articles to educate and share insights. Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and XRP, safely and securely. Arcane Crypto develops and invests in projects, focusing on bitcoin and digital assets. Arcane Trading with all the largest institutions globally, operates a portfolio of businesses, spanning the LMAX Digital is a primary price discovery venue, value chain for digital nance. As a group, Arcane streaming real-time market data to the industry’s deliver services targeting payments, investment, and leading indices and analytics platforms, enhancing trading, in addition to a media and research leg. the quality of market information available to investors and enabling a credible overview of the Arcane has the ambition to become a leading player spot crypto currency market. in the digital assets space by growing the existing businesses, invest in cutting edge projects, and LMAX Digital is regulated by the Gibraltar Financial through acquisitions and consolidation. -
Cinnober Bitgo PR FINAL
Press Release 11 July 2018 Cinnober and BitGo cooperate on cryptocurrency exchange offering Cinnober, a global independent provider of exchange technology, and BitGo, the market leader in institutional-grade cryptocurrency security, announced today a collaboration to provide solutions to cryptocurrency exchanges. BitGo’s wallet solution will expand Cinnober’s trading and post-trade platform to provide an end-to-end secure, institutional-grade digital asset exchange solution. Cinnober serves leading financial marketplaces globally with robust, multi-asset trading and clearing solutions. Through Irisium, Cinnober also provides a market surveillance platform to help safeguard market integrity. Through the collaboration with BitGo, Cinnober is consolidating its offering to cryptocurrency exchanges in need of a reliable and proven, high-performance trading solution to handle increasing market volumes, expectations from institutional investors and requirements from regulators. BitGo’s wallets and custodial services allow clients to store and transfer digital assets using industry standards for security and financial privacy. The solutions include security key management, multi-signature setups, setting of procedures and client-driven policies to ensure assets are held in a highly secure environment. “This cooperation strengthens our offering to cryptocurrency exchanges,” says Veronica Augustsson, CEO of Cinnober. “The cryptocurrency market has grown significantly in the past few years, and we’ve seen exchanges in this segment struggle with capacity, scalability challenges and repeated outages. There is an opportunity for Cinnober to support this market with proven trading and surveillance solutions used by established financial markets, and, with BitGo’s secure and reliable wallet and custody services, we can offer a competitive solution with short time-to-market.” “BitGo has a long history of successfully serving cryptocurrency exchanges, and we’re pleased to partner with Cinnober,” says Mike Belshe, CEO of BitGo. -
Blockchain Task Force
Blockchain Task Force September 24-25, 2018 FOIA Confidential Treatment Requested Shahla Ali serves as CLO/CCO at BitGo, heading up the legal team and ensuring compliance with laws and regulatory requirements. She brings more than 17 years of experience to the company having held senior legal and compliance roles at Carlson Capital, L.P. and Millennium Management, LLC. As Global CCO of Carlson, Shahla managed a team charged with implementing global compliance policies and procedures and was the global AML Officer/MLRO responsible for firm-wide global AML compliance, and other domestic and international KYC/AML/CIP requirements. At Millenium, Shahla led efforts to enforce compliance policies and procedures to meet SEC, CFTC, FINRA, NFA, Shahla F. Ali UK FSA, MAS, and Japan FSA requirements. Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Shahla served as Assistant Attorney General under Attorneys General Eliot Spitzer and Andrew M. Cuomo in the Office of the BitGo, Inc. New York State Attorney General (NYAG). Shahla earned her undergraduate degree from Boston University and a Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. 2 FOIA Confidential Treatment Requested Isaac Eleftheriadis serves as the Senior Technical Product Manager responsible for BitGo’s core blockchain platform services, which are the foundation for all BitGo service offerings. Isaac and his team are responsible for infrastructure development, monitoring protocol development of new and existing coins, and expanding BitGo’s support of coins and tokens. Isaac’s primary focus is ensuring customer funds remain secure and accessible at all times. Isaac has 11 years of experience building products that engage and delight users across mobile, desktop, and web platforms. -
Is the Mafia Taking Over Cybercrime?*
Is the Mafia Taking Over Cybercrime?* Jonathan Lusthaus Director of the Human Cybercriminal Project Department of Sociology University of Oxford * This paper is adapted from Jonathan Lusthaus, Industry of Anonymity: Inside the Business of Cybercrime (Cambridge, Mass. & London: Harvard University Press, 2018). 1. Introduction Claims abound that the Mafia is not only getting involved in cybercrime, but taking a leading role in the enterprise. One can find such arguments regularly in media articles and on blogs, with a number of broad quotes on this subject, including that: the “Mafia, which has been using the internet as a communication vehicle for some time, is using it increasingly as a resource for carrying out mass identity theft and financial fraud”.1 Others prescribe a central role to the Russian mafia in particular: “The Russian Mafia are the most prolific cybercriminals in the world”.2 Discussions and interviews with members of the information security industry suggest such views are commonly held. But strong empirical evidence is rarely provided on these points. Unfortunately, the issue is not dealt with in a much better fashion by the academic literature with a distinct lack of data.3 In some sense, the view that mafias and organised crime groups (OCGs) play an important role in cybercrime has become a relatively mainstream position. But what evidence actually exists to support such claims? Drawing on a broader 7-year study into the organisation of cybercrime, this paper evaluates whether the Mafia is in fact taking over cybercrime, or whether the structure of the cybercriminal underground is something new. It brings serious empirical rigor to a question where such evidence is often lacking. -
Exploring the Interconnectedness of Cryptocurrencies Using Correlation Networks
Exploring the Interconnectedness of Cryptocurrencies using Correlation Networks Andrew Burnie UCL Computer Science Doctoral Student at The Alan Turing Institute [email protected] Conference Paper presented at The Cryptocurrency Research Conference 2018, 24 May 2018, Anglia Ruskin University Lord Ashcroft International Business School Centre for Financial Research, Cambridge, UK. Abstract Correlation networks were used to detect characteristics which, although fixed over time, have an important influence on the evolution of prices over time. Potentially important features were identified using the websites and whitepapers of cryptocurrencies with the largest userbases. These were assessed using two datasets to enhance robustness: one with fourteen cryptocurrencies beginning from 9 November 2017, and a subset with nine cryptocurrencies starting 9 September 2016, both ending 6 March 2018. Separately analysing the subset of cryptocurrencies raised the number of data points from 115 to 537, and improved robustness to changes in relationships over time. Excluding USD Tether, the results showed a positive association between different cryptocurrencies that was statistically significant. Robust, strong positive associations were observed for six cryptocurrencies where one was a fork of the other; Bitcoin / Bitcoin Cash was an exception. There was evidence for the existence of a group of cryptocurrencies particularly associated with Cardano, and a separate group correlated with Ethereum. The data was not consistent with a token’s functionality or creation mechanism being the dominant determinants of the evolution of prices over time but did suggest that factors other than speculation contributed to the price. Keywords: Correlation Networks; Interconnectedness; Contagion; Speculation 1 1. Introduction The year 2017 saw the start of a rapid diversification in cryptocurrencies. -
Cybercrime-As-A-Service: Identifying Control Points to Disrupt Keman Huang Michael Siegel Stuart Madnick
Cybercrime-as-a-Service: Identifying Control Points to Disrupt Keman Huang Michael Siegel Stuart Madnick Working Paper CISL# 2017-17 November 2017 Cybersecurity Interdisciplinary Systems Laboratory (CISL) Sloan School of Management, Room E62-422 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02142 Cybercrime-as-a-Service: Identifying Control Points to Disrupt KEMAN HUANG, MICHAEL SIEGEL, and STUART MADNICK, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cyber attacks are increasingly menacing businesses. Based on literature review and publicly available reports, this paper analyses the growing cybercrime business and some of the reasons for its rapid growth. A value chain model is constructed and used to describe 25 key value-added activities, which can be offered on the Dark Web as a service, i.e., “cybercrime-as-a-service,” for use in a cyber attack. Understanding the specialization, commercialization, and cooperation of these services for cyber attacks helps to anticipate emerging cyber attack services. Finally, this paper identifies cybercrime control-points that could be disrupted and strategies for assigning defense responsibilities to encourage collaboration. CCS Concepts: • General and reference Surveys and overviews; • Social and professional topics Computing and business; Socio-technical systems; Computer crime; • Security and privacy Social aspects of security and privacy; → → → Additional Key Words and Phrases: Cyber Attack Business; Value Chain Model; Cyber-crime-as-a-Service; Hacking Innovation; Control Point; Sharing Responsibility 1 INTRODUCTION “Where there is commerce, there is also the risk for cybercrime”[139]. Cybercrime is a tremendous threat to today’s digital society. It is extimated that the cost of cybercrime will grow from an annual sum of $3 trillion in 2015 to $6 trillion by the year 2021 [115]. -
Victory Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index Fund Broad-Based Digital Asset Exposure for the New Age of Investing
Victory Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index Fund Broad-based digital asset exposure for the new age of investing Opportunities in Crypto Assets Crypto assets offer a unique opportunity for sophisticated investors looking Victory Capital’s forward- for growth, diversification, potential stores of value and possible hedges thinking crypto asset against inflation. With more than 10,000 crypto assets in existence today1 approach embraces the and with the potential to power decentralized transactions using blockchain technologies, crypto assets present a new and evolving approach to captur- power of diversification. ing these highly sought-after benefits. By offering exposure to an The evolution of the asset class is not yet complete; however, given its investible basket of coins increasing liquidity and expectations of clearer regulatory frame-works and in a dynamic, adaptable growth, crypto assets warrant investment consideration. Notably, crypto way, investors can gain assets have historically experienced exponential growth with the top three currencies accounting for over $1 trillion worth of assets today.1 broad-based access to the digital asset class A Definitive Benchmark for Crypto Assets across a core set of ex- Together with renowned index provider Nasdaq, Inc. and crypto-focused as- changes and custodians. set manager Hashdex Asset Management Ltd., Victory Capital has created a way for investors to gain broad-based market exposure to an emerging asset class for a relatively low cost and without lockups. INDEX CONSTITUENTS As of 06/01/21 -
First Crypto Index in Hong Kong
First crypto index in Hong Kong Index Review 2021 Q1 1 Market Overview 2 Historical Crypto Market Capitalization (free-floated) & Bitcoin Price (Dec 2018 - Mar 2021) 2021 Q1 Market Cap Bitcoin Price The total Market Cap and Bitcoin price kept the upward trend during this quarter. Source: CoinMarketCap as of 31/03/2021 HKT 3 Crypto market overview Top 10 Cryptos No Name Market Cap Price % Change* 2021 Q1 1 Bitcoin $1,099,939,890,804 $58,917.69 104.28% 2 Ethereum $212,788,788,571 $1,846.03 145.61% 9,000 + Crypto Currencies 3 Binance Coin $48,125,603,373 $311.43 716.54% 4 Tether $40,681,086,817 $1.00 0.00% 131 Billion USD Daily Volume 5 Cardano $38,763,410,938 $1.21 557.47% 6 Polkadot $31,495,837,002 $34.07 369.93% 7 XRP $25,737,663,165 $0.57 167.62% 1.88 Trillion USD Market Cap 8 Uniswap $14,871,243,021 $28.49 588.16% 9 Litecoin $13,129,004,499 $196.68 51.91% 10 THETA $12,977,378,293 $12.98 711.25% Source: CoinMarketCap as of 31/03/2021 HKT • % Change since the end of last quarter 4 Crypto market overview 2020 Q4 2020 Q3 9,000 + Crypto Currencies (+11.1%) 8,100 + Crypto Currencies 131 Billion USD Daily Volume (-29.1%) 185 Billion USD Daily Volume 1.88 Trillion USD Market Cap (+147%) 762 Billion USD Market Cap Compared with last review, total market cap rose by 147%, while the daily volume cooled down by 29.1%.