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Crypto staking is a way of maintaining consensus over bookkeeping systems with thousands of simultaneously updated copies that is, a blockchain.

Why it matters: A massive amount of value is tied up in staking. On Ethereum alone, 17.6 million ethers (about $30 billion in value, or 14% of ether's total market cap) is staked on the network, guaranteeing its transactions are provably fair.

Big picture: Stakers are like the bookkeepers on the blockchains.

Zoom in: With billions of dollars in value at stake, such bookkeepers might be tempted to cheat and put funds in their own pockets or those of their friends.

In short, Ethereum has $30 billion in crypto ensuring that everyone plays fair.

The upshot: These bookkeepers are willing to take this risk because they get paid to do so. They get fresh new emissions of cryptocurrency for every block they take responsibility for validating.

Between the lines: It actually isn't just that they play fair. It's also that they do the job well. A staker can lose some stake if it goes offline or screws up (though it won't be as bad as if they steal).

The intrigue: A person or company doesn't have to do the validation in order to participate though. It's also possible to delegate.

Another really big network is Coinbase, which enables its users to stake their assets seamlessly in the app. So far, $1.8 billion in ether has been staked on the largest U.S. exchange.

Be smart: Both Lido and Coinbase tokenize people's stakes. That means they get a sort of cryptocurrency coupon for their deposits, one that tracks their staking earnings and that can be traded on chain, without unstaking.

What we're watching: Ethereum's staking program has been unique. What has gone into Ethereum as a stake has not come out again, by design. But when the Ethereum protocol undergoes its next big upgrade this month, stakers can start withdrawing ether.

Go deeper:

Original post:

The promise and perils of staking cryptocurrency - Axios

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Illinois announced Thursday the seizure of cryptocurrency valued at approximately $24,000 from an account believed to be involved in a fraud scheme against an OFallon resident.

Many of us are still learning the facts about buying and trading cryptocurrency, and as in many cases, scammers are targeting the vulnerable, said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. I appreciate the collaboration between the OFallon Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service for their efforts to recover the victims funds.

The U.S. Secret Service is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of U.S. financial systems and preventing the public from losing their hard-earned money to these types of scams, said Stephen S. Webster, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Springfield Office. Unfortunately, new technology has made it easier for individuals abroad to take advantage of innocent victims throughout the United States. The U.S. Secret Service worked quickly with our partners at the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Illinois and OFallon Police Department to seize this cryptocurrency and prevent it from lining the pockets of criminals overseas.

The U.S. District Court issued a default judgment on Feb. 15 on a civil forfeiture complaint. The civil forfeiture complaint, which was filed on Sept. 21, 2022, sought the seizure of 14.77997889 Ethereum (ETH) Cryptocurrency from a Binance Account holder based in Nigeria.

According to an exhibit filed in support of the governments civil forfeiture complaint, a woman contacted the OFallon Police Department in June 2022 to report she was a victim of fraud in a suspected cryptocurrency scam worth more than $32,000.

In May 2022, the victim began communicating with a Twitter account unbeknownst to her at the time was impersonating a cryptocurrency influencer. The fraudster instructed her to deposit $32,662 worth of Bitcoin into a 3Twarriorstrading.com account. By the time the victim realized the website was a scam, she could not retrieve the cryptocurrency.

The value of the forfeited property will be returned to the victim through a process known as remission. The victim lost about $32,000, but the investigation could only trace and forfeit property worth approximately $24,000.

No criminal charges have been filed related to the civil forfeiture.

The OFallon Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam E. Hanna is prosecuting the case.

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U.S. Attorney Office Seizes $24000 in Suspected Cryptocurrency ... - Department of Justice

What happened

Cryptocurrencies were a stinker of an asset class on Wednesday, but you wouldn't know that from the performance of one of their top exchange operators. Coinbase (COIN 5.13%) saw its share price rise by almost 3% on the day following an analyst's price-target bump; this performance trounced that of the S&P 500 index, which wilted at a 0.7% pace.

Well before market open that day, Atlantic Equities' Simon Clinch made the move. He now pegs Coinbase's fair value at $63 per share, far higher than his previous $46 estimation. He's not ready to change his recommendation, however, which is a bit of a shame for investors as he continues to rate the stock a neutral.

Clinch's latest research note on Coinbase wasn't immediately available. However, it comes just after a very bullish Tuesday for cryptocurrencies in general and related assets specifically. That day Bitcoin, inarguably the bellwether coin of its realm, notched a nearly one-year price high -- $26,500 per coin, to be exact.

That had a knock-on effect with said assets, and as a leading crypto exchange operator, Coinbase certainly qualifies.

Yet cryptocurrencies and, by extension, Coinbase, might be in for some rocky times ahead.

Inflation is still a drag on both the U.S. and the global economy. While investors are hoping for a break or a comedown in the Federal Reserve's recent series of interest rate rises, this is by no means assured. High rates tend to dampen enthusiasm for investments considered to be more speulative, and as a group, cryptos and crypto-adjacent securities are usually lumped into this category.

Eric Volkman has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Coinbase Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Why Coinbase Stock Was a Cryptocurrency Winner on Wednesday - The Motley Fool

Cryptocurrency mixers are definitely advantageous in providing an extra layer of security to crypto assets. However, theres a good reason why they are also frowned upon by a lot of people, especially by the authorities and government regulators.

Cryptocurrency has gained significant popularity over the years as an alternative means of payment and investment. However, as cryptocurrency transactions are not tied to any specific individual or entity, there is a potential risk of privacy infringement. This is where cryptocurrency mixers come in.

A cryptocurrency mixer, also known as tumbler, is a platform that allows users to mix or combine their cryptocurrencies with others to enhance their privacy and anonymity. Essentially, a mixer scrambles the transaction history of a particular cryptocurrency and replaces it with a new one. This makes it difficult to trace the original transaction back to the sender, thus providing a layer of privacy and anonymity.

The mechanics of a cryptocurrency mixer involve users sending their cryptocurrency to the mixers platform. The mixer then blends the cryptocurrency with other users currencies and sends it back to their respective wallets. As a result, the transaction history of the original currency is scrambled and becomes untraceable.

Cryptocurrency mixers can be centralized or decentralized. Centralized mixers are operated by a third-party company while decentralized mixers rely on peer-to-peer networks.

One of the main advantages of cryptocurrency mixers is enhanced privacy and anonymity. Users can transact without worrying about their personal information being exposed to the public.

This is particularly useful for people who want to keep their financial transactions private, such as high-profile individuals or businesses. Cryptocurrency mixers also provide a means for people living in countries with strict financial regulations to transact anonymously.

However, cryptocurrency mixers also have their downsides. One of the main concerns is that they can be used for illegal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and terrorism financing.

The anonymity provided by cryptocurrency mixers makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace the origins of illegal activities. In fact, some countries have banned the use of cryptocurrency mixers entirely to prevent criminal activities.

Another downside of these platforms is that they can be expensive. Cryptocurrency mixers charge a fee for their services, which can range from a fraction of a percent to as high as 10% of the total transaction amount. This can make it costly for people who want to mix large amounts of cryptocurrency.

Furthermore, since these mostly operate on the darknet, users risk entrusting their funds to shady individuals operating the platform.

Cryptocurrency mixers are a useful tool for enhancing privacy and anonymity in cryptocurrency transactions. However, they also have numerous downsides, particularly in their potential use for illegal activities. This is the key reason why regulators frown upon them.

It is essential to weigh the pros and cons before using cryptocurrency mixers and to ensure that they comply with local regulations. Additionally, it is important to note that while cryptocurrency mixers can provide privacy, they do pose cybersecurity issues and your funds may be mixed in with others sourced from illicit activities.

Its best to avoid these altogether as the blockchain alone already comes with tons of security features to protect your crypto assets.

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Essential Stuff You Need To Know About Cryptocurrency Mixers - Blockzeit

DARTFORD, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2023 / Chiron Investigations, a leading provider of investigation services, has launched a new suite of solutions to help organizations combat online crime. In collaboration with companies that have fallen victim to various online crimes, Chiron Investigations provides a range of services, including custom analysis of cases, detailed investigations into transactions, closer interaction with stakeholders to assess the methods used by perpetrators, drawing a trail of events to establish root cause analysis, and protection from future occurrences through the deployment of robust security systems.

Chiron, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, Press release picture

As online transactions and commerce have grown, so have the risks of cybercrime. Team of experts offers guidance and support to those seeking to understand how to get their stolen crypto back. These crimes have a significant impact on an organization's reputation, operations, and finances. Chiron Investigations recognizes the importance of protecting businesses from the consequences of online crime and provides comprehensive solutions tailored to each client's needs.

"Our mission is to help businesses recover from the effects of online crime and to provide them with the tools they need to prevent it from happening again," said IT head of Chiron Investigations. Further he said , "We work closely with our clients to understand their unique challenges and tailor our solutions accordingly. Our team of experts has years of experience in investigating and preventing online crime, and we are committed to providing the highest quality of service to our clients."

Chiron Investigations offers a range of services designed to help businesses prevent and recover from online crime. The company provides customized solutions to suit each client's unique needs, including custom analysis of cases, detailed investigations into transactions, closer interaction with stakeholders to assess the methods used by perpetrators, drawing a trail of events to establish root cause analysis, and protection from future occurrences through the deployment of robust security systems. In addition to working closely with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions, they are also committed to helping those impacted by crypto trading platform crimes. Chiron Investigations' team of experts uses advanced technology and techniques to trace and recover stolen funds and to bring perpetrators to justice. They work closely with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions.

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"Our approach is to provide a comprehensive solution that addresses every aspect of online crime," said Spokes person for Chiron Investigations. "We understand the devastating impact that cybercrime can have on businesses, and we are committed to helping our clients protect themselves from future occurrences." Further added by Spokes Person.

Chiron Investigations' services are not only available to businesses of all sizes and across all industries, but they also offer flexible plans that include crypto recovery services to help get stolen bitcoin back. This ensures that their solutions are accessible to everyone, regardless of budget, and that victims of cryptocurrency theft have a reliable and trusted resource to turn to.

"We are confident that our services will make a real difference to businesses struggling with the effects of online crime," said CFO of Chiron Investigations. "Our team of experts is dedicated to providing customized solutions that meet the unique needs of each client. We believe that every business deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they are protected from online crime, and we are committed to making that a reality." Further added by CFO.

For more information about Chiron Investigations and their services, visit their website at http://www.chiron-investigations.com

About Chiron Investigations:Chiron Investigations is a leading provider of investigation services that help businesses recover from the effects of online crime. The company offers customized solutions to suit each client's unique needs, including custom analysis of cases, detailed investigations into transactions, closer interaction with stakeholders to assess the methods used by perpetrators, drawing a trail of events to establish root cause analysis, and protection from future occurrences through the deployment of robust security systems. Chiron Investigations' team of experts has years of experience in investigating and preventing online crime and works closely with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions to bring perpetrators to justice.

Media ContactContact Person: Julie SpencerCompany Name: Chiron Investigations Crypto Recovery SolutionsWebsite: https://chiron-investigations.com/Email: Admin@chiron-investigations.comCity: DartfordCountry: United Kingdom

SOURCE: Chiron

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/744055/Swift-and-Reliable-Cryptocurrency-Recovery-Services-Offered-by-Chiron-Investigations

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Swift and Reliable Cryptocurrency Recovery Services Offered by Chiron Investigations - Yahoo Finance