🔐 North Korea's Kimsuky builds local AI for crypto attacks
North Korean state-linked hacking group Kimsuky is reportedly developing local artificial intelligence capabilities, with a focus on scaling crypto-targeted phishing and social engineering operations.
By running AI tools locally, the group aims to reduce reliance on external platforms that could flag or restrict malicious use, making it harder to detect and disrupt their operations. The move signals a broader shift toward AI-assisted cyber threats directed at the crypto sector.
Kimsuky has a long track record of targeting crypto exchanges, developers, and institutions through sophisticated social engineering campaigns.
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An anonymous Bitcoin holder has sold more than 7,500 BTC — worth approximately $486 million — since mid-July, with a fresh transfer of 1,019 BTC recorded just hours ago, according to on-chain analytics firm Lookonchain.
The identity of the seller remains unknown. The consistent distribution pace has made this one of the largest recent sell streaks tracked on-chain, drawing attention from market observers monitoring large wallet activity.
No wallet label or known entity has been linked to the address by Lookonchain.
⚖️ Wintermute registers as FINRA broker-dealer, bridging crypto and equities
Wintermute, one of the largest crypto liquidity providers, registered with FINRA on August 6, gaining SEC approval to trade stocks. The move makes Wintermute a licensed broker-dealer, allowing it to operate across both crypto and traditional equity markets.
The registration signals a broader shift: crypto-native market makers are increasingly adopting Wall Street's regulatory infrastructure. By becoming broker-dealers, firms like Wintermute can access institutional equity venues, custody frameworks, and compliance structures that were previously exclusive to traditional finance.
The development reflects growing convergence between crypto market structure and regulated securities markets, as liquidity providers position themselves to serve institutional clients across asset classes under a unified regulatory umbrella.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $853.54 million in net inflows for the week of August 3–7, the strongest weekly total since mid-April, according to SoSoValue data.
BlackRock's IBIT dominated the flow, accounting for 81% of the total — roughly $691 million — cementing its position as the leading vehicle for institutional Bitcoin exposure among spot ETF products.
Hackers stole $3.4 billion in crypto in 2025 and surpassed $1 billion in the first half of 2026 alone, according to new research. Once funds begin moving, investigators have roughly 45 days before the trail effectively goes cold.
Over six years, more than $16 billion in crypto has been stolen. After a theft, laundering typically follows a structured pipeline: stolen assets are swapped across chains, routed through mixers or privacy protocols, fragmented across wallets, and eventually converted to fiat — all within that narrow window.
The pattern underscores the growing sophistication of crypto theft operations and the shrinking timeframe available to on-chain investigators and law enforcement to freeze or recover assets before they disappear into the broader financial system.
🔐 NFT Founder Indicted for Alleged $10M Investor Fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Taj Tarsha, founder of NFT marketplace Few and Far, on charges of raising over $10 million from 67 investors and allegedly misappropriating the funds.
According to federal prosecutors, Tarsha spent investor money on gambling, cryptocurrency purchases, and personal expenses rather than developing the project. The platform's FAR token subsequently lost more than 99% of its value.
The DOJ announced the indictment on August 5. The case adds to a growing list of federal enforcement actions targeting alleged fraud in the NFT and digital asset space.