#cryptocurrency

The FBI has sounded the alarm bells: Lazarus Group and APT38, North Korean hacker collectives, could potentially sell off stolen cryptocurrency amassing $40 million, potentially affecting Bitcoin's valuation. Through their investigative work, the agency has identified nearly 1580 BTC across six distinct Bitcoin addresses. The stolen assets are reportedly from Alphapo, CoinsPaid, and Atomic Wallet. In aiding market monitoring, the FBI has disclosed the associated wallet addresses, urging vigilance on any transactions involving them.

With MiCA's launch on the horizon, Croatia's government is hard at work developing rules to address the shortcomings. This includes a June directive that mandates all cryptocurrency companies to register within a two-month period. Officials are now on the path to implement "passporting," a MiCA feature that permits financial entities from a single country to serve the entire European Union under their home country's rules. Croatia's intention with these moves is to make the nation more appealing to cryptocurrency companies than other EU countries.

The country intention to seek a court-ordered shutdown of Facebook unless the social media giant takes decisive action to address alleged investment and cryptocurrency scam advertisements on its platform. According to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, over 200,000 individuals fell victim to deceptive Facebook ads. The ministry highlighted that common tactics employed by scammers included crypto investment and trading schemes, often featuring images of celebrities and prominent financial figures, and promising daily returns of up to 30%. The ministry is in the process of gathering evidence regarding these scam advertisements, with their number estimated to be over 5,300.

Coin Center, a crypto-focused policy nonprofit, has reached out to Congress members, urging for more transparent crypto tax regulations. In a letter to Senate Finance Committee's Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo, Coin Center emphasized the need for guidance on cryptocurrency taxation, especially concerning capital gains. They suggested a threshold for gains below which no tax would be due. Coin Center also stressed the importance of a "de minimis" exemption, without which, every small crypto transaction could become a taxable event. This exemption would simplify the use of cryptocurrencies for daily payments, especially for micropayments.

Cheongju’s administration has reached out to seven South Korean crypto exchanges, including Upbit and Bithumb, to investigate the holdings of around 8,520 individuals who owe a minimum of 1 million won ($750) in local taxes. After the investigation, authorities in Cheongju aim to seize cryptocurrency assets from such tax evaders. Crypto have increasingly been used for hiding assets in South Korea. Over the span of 2021 and 2022, a total of around $180 million worth of crypto were seized by the South Korean government from individuals who evaded their taxes.

The Dogecoin Foundation has expressed its heartfelt condolences over the passing of Balltze, the dog widely recognized online as Cheems. He passed away on August 18, 2023, during a surgical procedure. Balltze rose to internet fame in 2017 due to a photo capturing his distinctively troubled expression. Among the plethora of memes generated from this image, one in particular stands out: a comparison with Kabosu, the Dogecoin cryptocurrency mascot. Condolences have also poured in from various cryptocurrency and meme communities worldwide.