24 May LONDON, UK – Coinfirm – the industry-leading RegTech solutions provider – has compiled a forensic analysis report on Terrorism Financing Blockchain Addresses.
From on-chain and off-chain analytic techniques in blockchain, Coinfirm has identified multiple Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) – primarily cryptocurrency exchanges – receiving terrorism funds. This oversight has provided substantial resources accessible to malicious actors and left obliged entities unknowingly transacting with international terrorist groups.
Coinfirm identified 55 blockchain services – mostly cryptocurrency exchanges – that had received terrorism-related funds. According to the report, of those services, just 5 received ~92% of terrorism-related funds, with one exchange accounting for the majority share of 76%.
Although terrorism-related funding accounts for a fraction of crypto crime statistics, the negative impact on society from this type of crime is shattering. It is estimated that whilst the 9/11 attacks cost Al-Qaeda 500,000 USD, the loss to the U.S.A. was 3.3 trillion USD – or 7 million USD for every dollar spent by the attackers. Comparatively, for every 1 USD of narcotics-related illicit gains generated by criminals in the U.S.A., the cost to society is between 2 to 3 USD.
It is for this egregious societal cost disparity that the approximately 16,850,012 USD to 17,154,789 USD (values dependent on the tracing methodology applied) received between 21 November 2016 and 1 February 2021 by the 55 blockchain services identified by Coinfirm, is particularly serious. These funds undoubtedly went to supporting and recruiting members, maintaining logistics hubs, and conducting terrorist operations.
The Terrorism Financing Blockchain Addresses report is being distributed to regulators and law enforcement all around the world to aid them in their fight against terrorism financing groups – Coinfirm stands ready and willing to help these agencies with the firm’s three-pronged approach: a world-renowned Anti-Money Laundering platform, forensic fraud investigations and a one-of-a-kind blockchain data ecosystem.
1. Anti-Money Laundering – a technological platform allowing VASPs and regulators to verify the risk of blockchain addresses, wallets, transactions and counterparties – across over 1500 public and private blockchains and assets – with 270+ high-tech risk detection algorithms, in order to meet all the regulatory obligations in various jurisdictions.
2. Fraud Investigations – end-to-end investigation and asset recovery services, including a technological breakthrough solution allowing to track all funds reported as illicit in real-time, with use of multiple tracing methods for best evidence.
3. Data Ecosystem – the network and infrastructure of data collection and data reporting, incentivizing market players to report suspicious activities and allowing victims of crypto fraud from all around the world to report and claim lost funds; by this Coinfirm has created the world’s largest database of actively monitored blockchain entities and events.
In addition to the ‘traditional’ centralized entities of cryptocurrency exchanges, online custodian wallet providers and other ‘destination services’, the report finds a number of DeFi (decentralized finance) services as also being recipients of terrorism-related funds. Whilst few national regulations have as yet come around DeFi, Coinfirm has nevertheless proactively provided an AML/CFT solution tailored to this organizational model – the AML Oracle.
The danger of allowing malicious actors to operate with destination services allows them to continue perpetrating grievous crimes and erode the integrity of the financial system, a threat that should not go overlooked. Coinfirm’s global ecosystem of 200+ regulators, financial institutions, crypto exchanges and protocols will be alerted to the significance of the findings.
Collaborating and partnering with Coinfirm assures your organization will receive critical protection against overlooked threats – keeping you forewarned and secure – enabling the efficient commitment of resources to counter risk.
The firm’s industry-leading analytics acts as a strong advocate for cryptocurrency investors harmed by the illegal actions of cryptocurrency thieves, money launderers, and weapons proliferators. Coinfirm is one of the world’s leaders in tracing and locating illicitly obtained cryptocurrency assets associated with nefarious actors.
Contact Coinfirm to work with us today.
To discuss details and findings contained within this report please contact us via email: marketing@coinfirm.com.
