Rage Weekly 015: Free Speech, Digital Identities, and... Cows?
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Latest
The DOJ Crypto Memo Is Not A Carte Blanche
The Deputy Attorney General has asked the DOJ to stop targeting developers for the conduct of their users. But the issued memo appears to deliberately leave the door wide open to do exactly that.
Privacy On Trial At MIT Bitcoin Expo
Everything you need to know about the Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash prosecutions as discussed at the MIT Bitcoin Expo.
Tornado Cash Trial Could Raise Additional Questions Over Blockchain Surveillance Reliability
The jury trial against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm is postponed to July 14th in light of discussions on pretrial disclosures.
ICERAID: Report Immigrants, Get Paid In Crypto
ICERAID promises users rewards in cryptocurrency to report immigrants to law enforcement. The project claims to be in talks with the White House, but investors already want their money back.
CoinDesk Publishes Long Debunked Hamas Financing Allegations
Announcing the seizure of $200,000 in cryptocurrency allegedly linked to Hamas, CoinDesk publishes long debunked terrorist financing allegations
Tornado Cash: Treasury Attempts To Block Sanctions Judgement
The Treasury has filed a notice to stop a Texas district court from issuing a final judgement on Tornado Cash's sanctions reversal, attempting to retain powers to list software like Tornado Cash on OFAC's SDN list.
Chainalysis Sued For Deception In Celsius Scam
Celsius Network, led by debtors, is suing Chainalysis for 'propping up' a fraudulent $3.3 Billion audit of the platform that misled customers and investors.
IRS To Share Tax Data With ICE, DHS For Deportations
WaPo reports that the IRS will share tax information with ICE and DHS to aid the agencies in deportations, marking the second major increase in financial surveillance under the Trump administration in just a few weeks.
Tornado Cash Officially Removed From Sanctions List, Treasury Issues Warning
The Treasury has issued a warning that US persons should "exercise caution" before engaging with services like Tornado Cash amidst the software's removal from OFAC's SDN list.
Samourai Wallet Hearing Sets Key Dates For Criminal Trial
In a hearing in downtown Manhattan today, a slew of new hearing dates were set in the criminal trial of Samourai Wallet co-creators Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. The cofounders were charged in April of 2024 with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to run an unlicensed money
GOP Vote To Remove Debanking Oversight After Promising To Fight Debanking
Viral discussions on Operation Chokepoint 2.0 had the potential to reform a broken financial system. Instead, it birthed a disinformation campaign designed to save big tech from enforcement action while selling out consumers.
US
First Digital Asset Hearing: Self-Custodial Wallets Are Hamas
At the first Digital Assets Subcommittee hearing, terrorist financing, KYC requirements and sanctions compliance loomed over possible stablecoin regulation.
US
Saylor Advises SEC: Bitcoin Not "Digital Currency"
In a meeting with the Crypto Task Force, Michael Saylor proposes a regulatory framework that mainly benefits Michael Saylor.
International
Anonymous Crypto "Main Question" At CFT Conference
At the No Money for Terror Conference, FATF, Europol, and German Finance Minister contradict intelligence findings to advocate for total financial surveillance.
International
Encryption Is Under Siege
Chat Control, the EARN IT Act, and the UK's Apple order - private communication is under siege globally.
US
The Cost Of Gambaryan
Nigeria appears to have swapped Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan for US "resources and expertise" to fight illicit finance in a secret deal with the State Department.
US
Roman Storm Petitions Supreme Court
Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm his petitioning the Supreme Court to stop an order that would make him disclose his defense strategy to the Government.
International
Leaked Email: FinMa Abused Authority To Implement New KYC Rule
According to a lawsuit, the Swiss banking authority FinMa has abused its authority by secretly instructing SROs to implement monthly 1000 CHF no-KYC limits.
US
EFF Joins Roman Storm Defense
The digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed an amicus brief in the defense of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, citing the criminalization of privacy and the prosecution's chilling effects on free speech.
US
DARPA To Launch Pre-Crime AML Program
The Department of Defense is planning to launch a new AML program that wants to stop money laundering before it happens.
US
DOJ Doubles Down On Tornado Cash UI Charges
The US Government has filed its opposition to Tornado Cash's motion to reconsider the dismissal of criminal charges against the developers.
US
Oklahoma "Bitcoin Freedom Act" Protects Free Software, Decentralized Exchanges
A Bitcoin Bill introduced in Oklahoma sets an example for how sensible Bitcoin legislation can work in favor of the people and the industry as a whole.
EU
Travel Rule: As Surveillance Increases, EU Not Off To A Great 2025
The EU is ringing in 2025 with a truly remarkable shitshow for your financial privacy and security.