Articles

As the global financial system evolves to include digital assets, a new breed of illicit finance has emerged: Virtual Asset Money Laundering (VAML). Unlike traditional money laundering, which relies on complex networks of banks, shell companies, and intermediaries, VAML exploits the speed, automation, and opacity of blockchain infrastructure to obscure the origin of funds in minutes, not months.

When operating in Crypto, Know Your Transaction isn't just a nice technical feature - it's a regulatory imperative. For those trying to obtain regulatory certificates like BitLicense transaction monitoring cannot be overlooked.

Our Head of Intelligence at Nominis.io has uncovered a disturbing Telegram group, managed by a meticulously engineered black market operation based in China, selling date rape drugs to buyers worldwide.

In 2025, affinity fraud remains one of the most powerful weapons in a scammer’s arsenal. Fraudsters deliberately target communities bound by shared faith, culture, or heritage, exploiting trust and collective values to bypass normal skepticism.

The Travel Rule, formally known as Recommendation 16 (R16) by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing debate around regulating digital assets. Originally developed for traditional financial institutions to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, the rule mandates that Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) share personally identifiable information (PII) about the sender and receiver for transactions above a set threshold (typically $1,000 or €1,000).

In late July 2025, a defining moment hit the crypto privacy space. William Lonergan Hill and Keonne Rodriguez, the founders of Samourai Wallet, a non-custodial Bitcoin wallet known for its privacy features, pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

In Nigeria’s northeast, a silent financial shift is taking place. While headlines focus on the violence of Boko Haram and offshoot ISWAP’s territorial gains, the group’s financial architecture is undergoing a quieter transformation. This financial shift will move the groups off the banking grid, allowing them to move funds, reward fighters and sustain control over entire communities via the blockchain.

The dark web has a new tool fueling the surge in digital deception: FraudGPT, a malicious twist on generative AI, weaponized for crime. Unlike conventional language models designed for productivity and research, FraudGPT is a premium large language model (LLM) marketed specifically to cybercriminals. Its purpose? Enabling fraud at scale with alarming sophistication.

A growing trend in the Web3 landscape involves fundraising through Instant Community Monetization (ICM). Projects are rapidly developed using AI-powered coding tools (e.g., Cursor), then deployed and publicised on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Visibility is often amplified by tagging platforms such as @launchcoin, which may automatically create tokens tied to the project.

As regulators sharpen their focus on cross-border financial crime, a quiet but potent threat has been steadily gaining traction, MIR Pay, Russia’s national payment system, is becoming an increasingly common fiat gateway into the crypto world.

The recent decision by Lebanon’s central bank to prohibit all interactions with Al-Qard-Al-Hassan, the financial arm of Hezbollah, marks a significant regulatory milestone. While the move tightens the net on Hezbollah’s presence in formal finance, it is unfortunately unlikely to slow the group down. In fact it’s likely to push the group further in their acceleration which is already in motion, towards a deep reliance on crypto-currency.

The massive success of Netflix show Squid Game, and its recent arrival of Season 3, has revealed just how much we as an audience are drawn to dark, high-stakes game shows. While the show is fictional, we discovered a real-life equivalent that’s shockingly similar, thriving quietly with funding driven by blockchain technology.

In today’s hyper-connected world, we take “Internet” for granted, until a hurricane knocks out cell towers, an authoritarian government shuts off mobile data, or we venture deep underground where Wi-Fi signals can’t penetrate.

WeChat, developed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, is no longer just a messaging app, it is a digital ecosystem deeply embedded into the everyday lives of over 1.3 billion users.

When Robinhood first unveiled its plan to “tokenize” stocks, wrapping traditional equities in blockchain-based tokens, it stoked excitement across retail and crypto communities alike; tokenized stocks” let you buy and sell shares on a blockchain, 24/7, with near-instant settlement.

On July 1st 2025, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Russian-based Aeza Group, a bulletproof hosting provider accused of facilitating the infrastructure for major ransomware, information-stealer, and darknet criminal operations.

As the financial and cyber frontiers blur, hostile state actors like Russia, Iran, and China are increasingly exploiting cryptocurrency not just as a medium of exchange, but as a tool of influence, espionage and sanctions resistance. What was once the realm of early adopters and technologists is now a battleground for statecraft in the age of decentralization.

In a fast-moving world of crypto and fintech, startups are racing toward product launches, investment milestones, brand growth and market entry. We know it’s tempting to push certain operational safeguards, like Know Your Transaction (KYT) monitoring, down the road until after the launch. Naturally, this just doesn’t feel like the top priority.

Dubai’s crypto regulations are changing this week. As a KYT company with compliance at the forefront of our focus, we want to ensure crypto firms are able to digest any regulatory changes, and prepare for potential new obligations, as easily as possible.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev’s op-ed in The Washington Post advocated for the tokenisation of private company shares, aiming to democratise access to early-stage investments. T

The recent Coinbase data breach has reignited concerns about data security in the crypto industry, especially around KYC (Know Your Customer) practices.

In May 2025, Coinbase - the largest US cryptocurrency exchange, found itself as the target of a major cyber attack.

As crypto adoption continues to expand across the financial landscape, the demand for better transaction transparency and risk detection has become urgent. While KYC (Know Your Customer) has long been a regulatory staple, it’s no longer sufficient in a world where value moves instantly, globally, and pseudonymously.

When Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin Whitepaper in 2008, he laid the foundation for a financial system without intermediaries; one that anyone, anywhere, could access with the same ease as sending an email. Bitcoin was not just a technological innovation;

The cryptocurrency space has long been associated with innovation, decentralisation and volatility, with the absence of traditional oversight.

A growing wave of homebuyers is bypassing credit checks, income verification, and traditional mortgage paperwork in favour of something radically different: using cryptocurrency as collateral to buy real estate.

As DeFi matures, the industry is confronting a difficult truth: openness without accountability can create systemic risk. While DeFi thrives on permissionless innovation, it also introduces blind spots, particularly around who is validating transactions and where value is flowing.

Whether you’re building a centralized exchange (CEX) or launching a DeFi protocol (DEX), you’re already on the radar. Regulators expect you to play by the rules, or risk fines, bans, and reputational damage.

As Web3 ecosystems continue to expand globally, they are also growing as prime targets for covert operations - particularly from North Korean operatives posing as remote developers. Recent investigations have uncovered a disturbing trend: state-backed North Korean IT and Web3 workers infiltrating crypto companies by faking their identities, passing interviews with falsified credentials, siphoning earnings back to the regime as well as critical information about Western Web3 projects.

When people hear “crypto,” they often assume it means total anonymity. No banks, no names, no rules. But that’s a myth. While blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum don’t show your real name, they’re far from private.

As the world moves toward decentralized finance, more creators, freelancers, and global businesses are experimenting with crypto payments. From Bitcoin to stablecoins like USDT, the appeal is obvious: faster settlement, fewer intermediaries, and borderless transactions. But with this freedom comes a new level of responsibility, and risk.

The decentralized finance (DeFi) space experienced a relatively quiet month in December 2024 compared to previous months, with the total value of reported hacks and exploits amounting to approximately $3.6 million—a significant drop from $65.2 million in November.

Storage collisions represent a significant vulnerability in Ethereum smart contracts, particularly when employing the proxy design pattern for contract upgrades.

As AI and crypto continue their meteoric rise, they bring game-changing benefits to individuals, startups, and enterprises alike. AI-driven automation is streamlining financial transactions, optimising trading strategies, and making compliance smarter than ever. Crypto is breaking barriers, enabling instant global payments, and fuelling a new wave of decentralised finance

Blockchain technology is set to revolutionize the gaming industry by reshaping how developers and players engage with gaming ecosystems. Its integration introduces innovative ways to enhance ownership, security, and monetization within virtual worlds.

The dark web has long been a sanctuary for illicit activities around the world, with illegitimate businesses operating in secrecy and using cryptocurrencies to facilitate anonymous and often untraceable transactions.

The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has introduced a new Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) designed to combat money laundering linked to Mexico-based cartels near the southwest border.

BaFin’s on-site inspections highlight critical shortcomings in AML compliance, particularly in transaction monitoring, risk assessment, and regulatory adherence. While the original report focuses on traditional financial institutions, the same challenges, and even greater complexities, apply to crypto assets and blockchain-based financial services under BaFin’s regulatory scope.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are exploring the complex, ever-evolving roles that women play in the crypto space.

Despite considerable efforts made by law enforcement agencies to prevent and seize these imports/exports, the nauseating scale and anonymity provided by the dark web have set forth a nearly insurmountable task.

Recently, the crypto community was shaken by a sophisticated UI spoofing attack targeting Bybit. Hackers created a fraudulent interface that perfectly mimicked the real multi-signature signing process,

The dark web is a hidden part of the internet, accessible only through specialized software, which ensures user activity remains anonymous

Proliferation Financing (PF) refers to the act of providing financial support for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

Every year as Valentine’s Day approaches, online scammers ramp up their tactics to exploit the emotions and financial trust of unsuspecting victims

Cryptocurrency shell companies are established to obscure the identity of their owners and facilitate illicit activities within the crypto industry.

Blockchain forensics has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against financial crimes, leveraging the transparency and immutability of blockchain technology to trace illicit activities

US federal prosecutors have indicted a 22 year old Canadian, Andean Medjedovic, for the exploitation of vulnerabilities in DeFI protocols, resulting in the theft of about $65 million in cryptocurrency assets.

YouTube has become a dangerous platform in regards to money laundering, specifically within the new and burgeoning world of crypto.

Legal tokenization involves converting legal documents, such as injunctions or court orders, into digital tokens that can be recorded and delivered on a blockchain.

The crypto gambling market has grown substantially, reaching a size of $250 million. It continues to grow, propelled by blockchain’s promise of privacy, security, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

As Donald Trump returns to the political spotlight with his re-inauguration to office, the cryptocurrency industry appears to be bracing for the growing national interest in blockchain innovation, while also remaining somewhat skeptical about changes the new administration may have in store for them.

Afghanistan’s financial landscape has been in turmoil since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, with economic sanctions, frozen reserves, and the collapse of the U.S.-backed government pushing the nation further and further into crisis.

In the fast-evolving world of Web3, decentralization is more than just a buzzword - it’s a paradigm shift.

Research shows the strain on DeFi innovation as a direct result of developers neglecting security issues.

Crypto wallet drainers, also known as sweepers, are malicious smart contracts designed to quickly empty a crypto wallet of its funds. These tools are frequently used by phishing scammers.

Compliance is no longer just a checkbox or a secondary consideration. It’s a cornerstone of long-term success, operational security and trust in your company. Yet, many organizations underestimate the true cost of non-compliance until it’s too late.

In 2023, NOMINIS (Xplorisk) identified 5,000 cryptocurrency wallets linked to terror financing, some of which had collectively transferred $100 million.

The rise in hacking incidents has prompted many cryptocurrency companies to implement bounty programs as an immediate response. While these programs have recouped millions in stolen assets, they often act as temporary fixes that don't tackle underlying systemic issues.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) have become a significant innovation in blockchain-based governance, operating without central leadership.

The cryptocurrency sector is increasingly vulnerable to a growing array of sophisticated cyber threats. Among these, Info Stealers and Wallet Drainers have emerged as potent tools for executing unauthorized transactions and extracting sensitive data such as private keys.

In recent years, Telegram has emerged as a significant platform for cryptocurrency-related criminal activities.

Polkadot, developed by Ethereum co-founder Dr. Gavin Wood, has emerged as a leader in the blockchain ecosystem by addressing critical challenges like scalability, interoperability, and compliance. By integrating cutting-edge AML tools and CTF insights, Polkadot sets a new standard for secure, compliant, and scalable blockchain networks

The FCA have banned Pump.fun from the UK, but how will this affect the crypto community? Solana’s Pump.fun, a cryptocurrency platform focused on tracking and facilitating DeFi activities on the Solana blockchain, has been restricted in the UK based on a warning from the FCA.

GameFi compliance solutions, blockchain and gaming, enabling players to earn real-world value. With $1.1B invested in Q2 2024.

Analyze crypto wallet security threats and solutions, from DeFi access to new standards like ERC-4337. Deep dive into vulnerabilities and defenses.

Halloween 2024 brings creepy crypto-crimes and scams. Discover recent digital payment horror stories and key lessons to enhance your crypto security.