Darknet

Bitcoin

2026-08-28 11:37:13

UK Police Seize 20.21 Bitcoin Tied to Darknet Drug and Trafficking Networks

UK police have confiscated 20.21 bitcoin and other crypto assets and bank funds worth about $1.4 million (£1.03 million) after tracing the money to darknet marketplaces that ran between 2016 and 2019. The Avon and Somerset Police financial investigation unit said the sites, now shut down by law enforcement, were connected to drug supply and human trafficking. This is the largest cryptocurrency seizure by the force since the UK introduced crypto wallet freezing orders in April 2024, a power that allows police to freeze and recover digital assets without making an arrest first, transfer them to wallets controlled by law enforcement, and take possession of written passwords or hardware devices. The individual linked to the seized assets had previous money laundering convictions and has since passed away. Police said blockchain's permanent record of each transaction served as a key evidence source in the case. The assets were forfeited earlier this year under the Proceeds of Crime Act after a court found they represented the proceeds of unlawful conduct. The recovered funds will be used to support community and policing projects.

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Czech Republi

2026-08-26 06:13:46

Czech court keeps alleged crypto laundering ringleader in custody after shift in stance

A Czech court in Brno has decided to keep programmer Tomáš Jiříkovský in custody after his latest detention hearing, even as prosecutors said he has softened his earlier refusal to cooperate with investigators. According to Bitcoin.com, Jiříkovský, described as the main defendant in a major Czech cryptocurrency money laundering case, has not yet provided detailed testimony, but prosecutors said his position has changed from total non-cooperation. He is accused of operating a darknet platform and laundering criminal proceeds. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with asset confiscation. The court said custody should continue because of flight risk and the possibility that Jiříkovský still controls part of the undisclosed crypto assets tied to the case. A central point in the case is an approximately $44 million Bitcoin donation he provided to the Czech Ministry of Justice. He had previously proposed handing over 30% of a seized crypto wallet to the government in exchange for help unlocking the wallet.

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Czech Republi

2026-08-26 05:39:26

Defendant in Czech $44 million Bitcoin donation case signals possible cooperation as prosecutors seek up to 20 years

Tomáš Jiříkovský, the main defendant in a Czech cryptocurrency money-laundering case tied to darknet activity, has for the first time indicated he may cooperate with investigators. A court in Brno ordered that he remain in custody, citing flight risk and the possibility that he still controls undisclosed crypto assets. Prosecutors said Jiříkovský has changed his position on allegations tied to the operation of a darknet market and the laundering of criminal proceeds, but has not yet provided detailed testimony. They are seeking a prison sentence of up to 20 years along with asset confiscation. The case also involves a Bitcoin donation worth $44 million that he made to the Czech Ministry of Justice, according to Bitcoin.com News.

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Binance

2026-07-28 00:23:11

Binance CEO says exchange helped India trace on-chain flows tied to darknet drug gangs

Binance CEO Richard Teng said the exchange worked with India’s data protection body DSCI to support the country’s Narcotics Control Bureau, or NCB, in efforts against darknet drug gangs using on-chain transaction tracing. The statement, cited by Cointelegraph and carried by Techub News, framed the cooperation as an example of how blockchain’s transparent transaction record can be used to follow illicit fund movements. Teng’s remarks also pointed to a broader pattern of coordination between crypto trading platforms and law enforcement agencies in cases involving digital-asset crime. The report did not disclose additional operational details, timelines, or case outcomes, but it identified the collaboration as a joint effort involving Binance, DSCI, and the Indian authorities.

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PChome

2026-07-24 06:20:17

PChome Hacked by Settra: 12-Page Penetration Report Published on Darknet, 3.5 Million Users' Data Exposed

Hacker group Settra claims to have breached PChome on June 10, releasing a 12-page report on the darknet. Allegedly 102GB of data stolen, including 3.5M user records, employee IDs, and 9 years of operational data. If confirmed, Pi Wallet may become Taiwan's first ransomware-hit third-party payment firm.

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India

2026-07-23 19:40:15

India Forms Crypto Task Force to Track Darknet Drug Trade and Illicit Funds

India has created a crypto task force under the MAC framework to target darknet narcotics trade and illicit money flows, using the NIDAAN database, blockchain forensics, and inter-agency coordination.

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DOJ

2026-07-22 21:20:14

US DOJ Finalizes Forfeiture of Over $400 Million Linked to Helix

The U.S. Department of Justice has secured final forfeiture of more than $400 million in assets seized from Helix operator Larry Dean Harmon, tying the case back to darknet-linked crypto laundering activity.

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darknet

2026-07-22 13:50:14

Rui-Siang Lin Sentenced to 30 Years in U.S. Over Darknet Drug Market Incognito Market

Rui-Siang Lin was sentenced to 30 years in Manhattan federal court for operating Incognito Market, a darknet drug marketplace that prosecutors said processed over $105 million in sales.

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