cryptocurrency

Kent Lundin, 73, a retired ambulance driver from Kolback, Sweden, has cancer. He lost hundreds of thousands of Swedish crowns to Milton Group (Alexander Mahmoud/Dagens Nyheter)

March 18, 2020, 11:35 am

Israeli-run scam in Kyiv shows how binary options industry has mutated

An international consortium of journalists has exposed a Ukrainian scam call center run by Georgian-Israelis with friends in high places

By Simona Weinglass

Representatives of DX.Exchange at Bloomberg's Crypto Summit in London, December 2018 (Facebook)

November 24, 2019, 7:08 pm

Much-hyped cryptocurrency website goes bust, revealing ties to binary options

78 current and ex-employees of the Israeli firm behind DX.Exchange, many of whom formerly worked for FBI-raided company SpotOption, petition to dissolve their employer

By Simona Weinglass and Raoul Wootliff

Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Financial Services Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC on October 23, 2019. (MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

October 24, 2019, 12:42 pm

Defensive Zuckerberg grilled by skeptical Congress on Facebook’s currency plans

Founder of social media giant questioned at hearing amid concerns over company’s track record on civil rights, hate speech, privacy and misinformation

By Marcy Gordon, Barbara Ortutay and Ken Sweet

A page from a Coin Tree marketing presentation as it appeared in the lawsuit of Elad Arad against Uriel and Daniel Peled

August 15, 2019, 1:12 pm

Lawsuit among crypto entrepreneurs opens window into controversial industry

Coin Tree and related companies allegedly helped binary options operatives launch new ventures; one firm was reportedly tapped by Trump administration to promote Mideast peace

By Simona Weinglass

This undated photo provided by the Police News Agency, shows boxes of machinery used in Bitcoin 'mining' operations that were confiscated by police in Nazarabad, Iran. (News.police.ir via AP)

July 18, 2019, 4:34 pm

Bitcoin craze hits Iran as US sanctions squeeze weak economy

Though not banned under Islamic law, Iranian authorities are cracking down on cryptocurrency, with some officials worried energy-hungry miners are abusing subsidized electricity

By Jon Gambrell and Amir Vahdat

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a House Energy and Commerce hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 11, 2018, about the use of Facebook data to target American voters in the 2016 election and data privacy. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

July 16, 2019, 11:33 am

Facebook’s cryptocurrency plans face scrutiny from US lawmakers

Congress to hold 2 days of hearings on Libra, which Treasury Secretary Mnuchin warns ‘could be misused by money launderers and terrorist financers’

By Marcy Gordon

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill April 10, 2018 in Washington, DC. (AFP / SAUL LOEB)

June 20, 2019, 8:18 am

Facebook’s currency Libra faces financial, privacy pushback

Tech giant already under scrutiny for poor record on privacy, dominance of market; House Financial Services Committee head wants plan suspended until regulators can study it

By AP

Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives to meet France's President Emmanuel Macron after the "Tech for Good" Summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

From the WebJune 18, 2019, 1:13 pm

Facebook reveals Libra cryptocurrency, with lofty goals

Reuters: Facebook unveils plans for cryptocurrency in an effort to expand reach beyond social networking to e-commerce and global payments

Palestinian fighters from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas terror organization, attend a rally in Gaza City on December 16, 2018, marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamist group's founding. (Said Khatib/AFP)

April 27, 2019, 4:55 am

Hamas developing Bitcoin system for secure international funding, report says

Terror group in ‘experimental stage’ of building complex online payment system, raising fears among regulators

By TOI staff

Neema's Barak Ben Ezer (YouTube screenshot)

March 9, 2019, 3:45 am

Israeli company partners with Marshall Islands to launch digital currency

Neema is working with the tiny island nation to allay US regulatory concerns as well as solve technological and logistical issues, but plans to have coin on offer this year

By AFP

Illustrative: Call center employees at E&G Finances in Bulgaria which operated online trading sites (YouTube screenshot)

March 7, 2019, 2:14 pm

Alleged Israeli financial scammer arrested in Bulgaria

Bulgarian media reports that binary options and cryptocurrency operative Gal Barak has been apprehended and awaits extradition to Austria

By Simona Weinglass

Moshe Hogeg, businessman and Beitar Jerusalem owner, visits the Western Wall in the Jerusalem, on August 13, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 9, 2019, 8:21 pm

In court, blockchain entrepreneur says investors have no ownership rights

Moshe Hogeg responds to a lawsuit alleging he misappropriated funds and deviated from white paper business plan, by asserting that such papers are descriptive, not legally binding

By TOI staff

Illustrative image of bitcoins (Courtesy BitsofGold)

February 6, 2019, 11:11 am

Canadian Bitcoin exchange president dies suddenly, putting millions out of reach

Gerald Cotten takes to his grave passwords for computer containing access to cryptocurrencies from 115,000 users

By AFP

Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi (R) receiving a Beitar Jerusalem fan club membership card from club owner Moshe Hogeg at an event in Barcelona, Spain, in December 2018. (Screenshot: Twitter)

January 25, 2019, 2:43 pm

Beitar Jerusalem owner sued by Chinese investor for alleged cryptocurrency fraud

Zhewen Hu files NIS 17 million lawsuit against Moshe Hogeg and his company, Stox, claiming Hogeg dipped into investors’ funds for his own use; Hogeg denies allegation

By TOI staff

June 22, 2018, 6:47 pm

Cryptocurrency-related crime will surpass all other cyberattacks in 2018: expert

Leading experts at Tel Aviv cybersecurity conference weigh pros and cons of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and the risks of blockchain technology in financial transactions

By Simona Weinglass