Alleged French crypto kidnapping mastermind arrested in Morocco
Moroccan police arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, who is accused of being one of the ringleaders behind a spate of recent crypto-related kidnappings in France.
A man accused of being one of the masterminds behind a string of recent kidnappings in France to gain access to crypto has been arrested in Morocco.
At the request of French authorities, Morocco’s national police and intelligence service arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou — a 24-year-old French-Moroccan man who was reportedly found in possession of multiple bladed weapons and several mobile phones.
France’s Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, praised the arrest in a June 4 X post after French news outlet Le Parisien reported the arrest.
“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which demonstrates the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly against organized crime,” Darmanin said.
Interpol issued a red notice for Bajjou’s arrest in 2023, alleging he was tied to other kidnappings and criminal activities.
The inflow into the $ETH ETF is looking incredibly positive!
Over the last 12 business days alone, a massive $650 million has flowed into #Ethereum products, accounting for a full 20% of the entire market's inflow#Ehereum $ETH
Bitcoin is witnessing a tough battle between the bulls and the bears at $105,000, but several altcoins are showing strength with potential breakout setups.
Bitcoin remains at risk of falling to $100,000, but the long-term picture remains intact.
Focus shifts to select altcoins, which are on track to rise above their respective overhead resistance levels.
Bitcoin
BTC
$105,194
is holding near the $105,000 level, but the failure of the bulls to sustain the bounce on June 3 suggests a lack of demand at higher levels. Analysts expect Bitcoin to fall to the psychologically crucial $SOL adoption and the rise of Bitcoin acquisition vehicles had resulted in a 30% drop in Bitcoin’s liquid supply, which could create the “conditions for demand shocks and upside volatility.”
Could Bitcoin plummet to $100,000, pulling# altcoins lower? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out. #bnb #Xrp🔥🔥 #ADA #sol #DOGE $XRP $
A Coinbase insider scandal exposed 70,000 users’ personal data, triggering debates on rethinking crypto’s KYC systems.
Coinbase’s recent data breach is prompting renewed calls to remove Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements in licensed cryptocurrency exchanges.
Illicit actors bribed the exchange’s overseas customer service agents in December 2024 to gain access to the personal information of 70,000 users. In May, Coinbase admitted that hackers had obtained data such as government-issued ID photos and home addresses.
“All this security theater needs to be abolished asap. Time and again it only benefits hackers and extortionists,” said pseudonymous developer Banteg on X. “KYC actually enables crime.”
However, it’s not feasible for exchanges to simply turn their backs on KYC, as it is a regulatory mandate in several jurisdictions. Meanwhile, privacy-enhancing alternatives like zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs remain limited by cost and technical complexity.
KYC becomes flawed gatekeeper for Coinbase
Coinbase’s latest data scandal places the Nasdaq-listed company on the spot. But the concern applies to all centralized crypto platforms operating under regulatory licenses worldwide. Centralized exchanges now collect and manage passport scans, government IDs, selfies or even utility bills from users who just want to trade.
KYC was designed to curb fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing. But in practice, it’s everyday users who end up exposed while determined attackers find ways around the system.
“Anyone is able to generate a fake US passport or diploma from a leading law school. And 50% of businesses with identity checks are likely bypassable with generative AI,” Ilia Kolochenko, CEO of cybersecurity company ImmuniWeb, told Cointelegraph.
In February 2024, it was reported that people can successfully bypass crypto exchange KYC verification walls by generating passports using AI. Then in October 2024, another AI service popped up to add a video generation tool to bypass crypto KYC checks #BinanceAlphaAlert #EDGENLiveOnAlpha #btc70k $BTC $SOL $BNB
🇷🇺 LATEST: Russia’s largest bank Sberbank launches structured bonds tied to Bitcoin and USD/RUB, with $BTC futures set to list on Moscow Exchange June 4.#BTC $BTC
Russia’s largest bank Sber offers up Bitcoin-linked bonds
Russia’s largest commercial bank, Sber, launched a Bitcoin-linked bond product that’s now trading on OTC markets and may soon be listed on the country's top stock exchange.
Russia’s largest commercial bank, Sber has launched a Bitcoin-linked bond product that tracks the cryptocurrency’s change in price and the dollar-to-ruble exchange rate.
The product is already available to qualified investors in the over-the-counter market, and Sber plans to list the product on the Moscow Stock Exchange in the future, the company formerly known as Sberbank said in a statement on May 30.
The listing will ensure transparency, liquidity and convenience for a wide range of qualified investors, Sber added.
Sber said the structural bond could allow holders to earn income from the change in dollar value in Bitcoin
BTC
$105,258
and the strengthening of the dollar against the Russian ruble.The bank said that all transactions are carried out in rubles within Russia’s regulatory framework, so investors don’t need to rely on crypto wallets or unregulated platforms.
Sber said it would also offer exchange-traded products providing exposure to crypto on its SberInvestments platform — starting with a Bitcoin futures product, which the bank said should be listed on June 4 once the Moscow Exchange officially launches the product. Russia’s top bank gives the green light to crypto products
Sber’s move comes as Russia’s central bank permitted financial institutions to offer certain crypto financial instruments to accredited investors on May 28.
However, a key stipulation of the Bank of Russia’s announcement was that financial institutions could not offer cryptocurrencies directly.#wct
GM! Here's a market update that you need to know 👇
1. US session stepped in strong, selling pressure has halted.
Equities eyeing a potential double bottom vs. double top setup.
Still a range-bound market, but momentum is building.
Powell’s speech was a non event.
2. Crypto:
$BTC and $ETH bulls showing signs of life. Still ranging on the daily, but on the 4H charts, key support levels (61.8-78.6 fibs) are holding with double bottoms forming.
Now watching for a retest of recent highs or potential breakout.
3. Alts:
Altcoins catching a bid.
Alt index showing first leg up.
Many alts still consolidating, but setups are forming.