Well-liked meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) has more and more grow to be related to a number of illicit actions reminiscent of terrorism financing, Ponzi schemes, and baby intercourse abuse, in response to a new report by Elliptic.
The blockchain analytics firm revealed in its report that the meme coin popularized by Elon Musk had grow to be a well-liked alternative for dangerous actors to facilitate transactions within the tens of millions.
Whereas the overwhelming majority of this exercise consists of fraud, scams and Ponzi schemes, it additionally contains probably the most severe varieties of crime, together with terrorism financing and distributors of kid sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
In July 2021, Israel’s Nationwide Bureau for Counter Terror Financing issued a seizure order towards 84 crypto addresses believed to be related to the Hamas group. A kind of wallets contained $40,235 in Dogecoin.
Moreover, the analytics firm additionally found {that a} small however rising variety of CSAM distributors on the darknet and out of doors now obtain Bitcoin. Elliptics solely recognized $3000 in Dogecoin, which is a small quantity.
However it warned that this might signify a rising “urge for food for felony actors to undertake a variety of crypto belongings to keep away from discover.”
Darknets accepting Dogecoin
A number of darknet markets and malware campaigns additionally settle for Dogecoin. Elliptics recognized darknet providers reminiscent of Simply-Kill that also settle for Dogecoin whereas others now not settle for it.
Moreover terrorists, far rights extremist teams additionally seem to have taken a liking for cryptocurrencies, together with Dogecoin. These teams, far-rights weblog websites, information, and video sharing platforms, use Dogecoin to boost funds after they can’t use conventional strategies.
Infowars is one such web site. The far-right globalism-battling information web site has raised over $1,700 in Dogecoin.
This discovery is just like the revelations of the Monetary Motion Activity Power final 12 months about far-rights teams utilizing cryptocurrencies reminiscent of Bitcoin and privateness cash.
Nevertheless, Ponzi schemes, theft, and fraud look like the largest illicit use of Dogecoin. Elliptics declare to have recognized over 50 circumstances the place criminals cashed out tens of millions of {dollars} in Dogecoin.
Well-liked situations embody the alleged theft of $119 million in Dogecoin related to a Turkish Ponzi scheme final 12 months. In 2020, the Chinese language authorities additionally seized greater than $20 million DOGE within the $6 billion PlusToken Ponzi scheme.
