20 stories about Fraud from across the crypto press, curated and summarized daily. Most recent: Oct 22, 2026.
Chinese prosecutors are seeking to confiscate more than 61,800 Bitcoin linked to a fraud scheme that allegedly took in $5.7 billion. The application opens a legal contest over the coins: a U.K. court recently ruled Chinese law governs victims’ claims, while a Tianjin court is expected to consider the confiscation request after a six-month notice period.
A UK court ruling has improved the government’s position in a dispute over 61,000 bitcoin seized by the Metropolitan Police, worth about $5 billion. The judge said Chinese law should govern victims’ claims, a decision that weakens the claimants’ case but does not itself settle who ultimately gets the bitcoin.
Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market, faced a $10 million fraud attempt while its CEO reportedly prioritized growth over compliance. Hackers also compromised nearly 500 user accounts using stolen personal information.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the imprisoned former CEO of FTX, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his fraud conviction and $11 billion forfeiture. He argues he was prevented from presenting evidence that FTX had sufficient assets to cover losses. The Supreme Court's decision could have significant implications for crypto regulation and legal precedents.
Ukrainian authorities have shut down a significant crypto scam operation that allegedly stole up to $1 million per month. The investigation identified 62 victims and implicated over 46 individuals in the scheme. This crackdown highlights the growing sophistication and reach of crypto-related fraud.
Federal prosecutors have charged Taj Tarsha, founder of an NFT startup, with misusing $10 million in investor funds for personal expenses. This case highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in the crypto sector.
BitMEX co-founders Arthur Hayes, Samuel Reed, and Benjamin Delo are facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging insider trading and deliberate server freezes. The exchange is winding down operations, adding complexity to the legal situation.
The SEC has sued Mining Automatic and its founder for allegedly defrauding investors out of $22 million. The company promised guaranteed returns from crypto mining but reportedly spent only a fraction of the funds on mining operations.
Interpol discovered a crypto wallet handling $122.5 million over 10 months tied to romance scams. The operation also led to 5,811 arrests worldwide. This highlights the growing use of cryptocurrency in large-scale fraud schemes.
A criminal group with ties to fentanyl distribution has been accused of running a crypto scam using a fake 'zksync.jp' token, causing over $1 million in losses. The scheme originated from Japan and targeted crypto users worldwide, highlighting the intersection of drug trafficking and digital fraud.
The CFTC has permanently barred Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of Celsius, from trading in CFTC-regulated markets. This follows his conviction for fraud in the collapse of the crypto lending platform.
Alexander Mashinsky, the founder of failed crypto lender Celsius, had earlier been imprisoned for fraud and is now formally banned from CFTC registration.
A Miami resident known as 'Bitcoin Rodney' pleaded guilty to his role in the HyperFund crypto scheme, which prosecutors say defrauded investors out of $1.8 billion. This is one of the largest crypto fraud cases in history.
A Tennessee man has been indicted by federal authorities for allegedly running a crypto Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of millions of dollars. The scheme reportedly operated from 2020 to 2024, promising high returns but delivering nothing.
The SEC has filed a lawsuit against a Texas man for allegedly running a $12.3 million crypto scheme using fake AI trading bots. Only 3% of the funds were actually used for trading, with the rest diverted for personal use and Ponzi-like payments.
Singapore police have charged Zhu Juntao, the former CEO of Hodlnaut, with six counts of fraud. The charges relate to allegedly misleading statements about the company's exposure to the Terra/UST crash. This case highlights the ongoing legal fallout from the 2022 crypto collapse.
Missouri's Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against CoinFlip, alleging its crypto ATMs were used in fraud schemes and charged excessive fees. The lawsuit highlights the risks of unregulated crypto transactions for consumers.
Crypto monitoring systems designed for human activity may struggle with AI-driven transactions, according to Elliptic CEO Simone Maini. This could lead to a security arms race as bad actors leverage automation.
Poland has passed a crypto bill to comply with the EU's MiCA regulations, while a fraud investigation involving a major exchange is deepening political divisions. This move aims to clarify crypto regulations and protect investors, but the scandal could slow adoption.
Investigative researcher ZachXBT has identified an 18-year-old allegedly responsible for multiple crypto scams totaling $19 million. The individual is accused of orchestrating several high-profile frauds over the past year.