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FBI accuses crypto exec of paying LA cops to extort victim’s digital assets

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The founder of a cryptocurrency trading platform has been accused of paying Los Angeles police officers to help him extort a victim for their digital assets.

A complaint filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation accuses Adam Iza of bribing three Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies to solicit police data and file dubious search warrants against a business associate, identified only as E.Z., in a bid to extort cryptocurrency.

Iza, who founded the crypto trading platform Zort Inc., allegedly paid the deputies up to $280,000 per month and used the information he acquired to threaten E.Z. after a failed kidnapping attempt in Riverside County in November 2021.

According to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department report reviewed by the FBI, E.Z., who had known Iza for over two years, claimed that Iza arranged for two men, including a former sheriff’s deputy, to force him into an SUV at gunpoint. E.Z. managed to escape and contacted law enforcement. 

Iza, however, told police that he had feared for his own safety and had called the men as bodyguards.

The FBI report added that Iza hired a private investigator to track E.Z. and sent him images of sensitive law enforcement data, including a “GPS search warrant” for a phone number that belonged to the victim.

After the failed abduction, E.Z. claimed to have received messages from unknown numbers containing pictures of his personal details pulled from police databases. 

The messages also showed images of his family, heightening the intimidation efforts, according to the complaint. The harassment continued, and E.Z. claimed he was pressured by Iza to hand over a laptop that allegedly contained cryptocurrency.

Further, Iza has also been accused of extorting another victim by masquerading as an FBI officer and stealing a laptop containing crypto while holding the victim at gunpoint for the password.

Iza is also accused of evading taxes by hiding millions of dollars in income, some of which came from cryptocurrency transactions. Between 2020 and 2022, Iza and his associates allegedly amassed more than $30 million, funneled the money through shell companies, and used the funds to purchase luxury items such as cars and to cover the rent for a mansion in Bel Air.

Prosecutors have charged Iza with conspiracy against rights and tax evasion. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 8.

Crypto demand fueling crime spree

Sadly, cases like this aren’t rare in the crypto world, with the sector seeing its share of extortion and kidnappings. As the value of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin continues to rise, they’ve become prime targets for criminals.

As previously reported by crypto.news, in August, the Malaysian police were looking for four kidnappers who demanded and received a $1.2 million crypto ransom from the relatives of a victim.

In a separate case, authorities in Hong Kong arrested two Kidnappers who demanded $66,000 USDT in ransom payment.

Last year, a cryptocurrency portfolio manager for a Dubai-based company was abducted in Spain, and the culprits demanded 1 million euros as ransom in cash and cryptocurrencies.

Meanwhile, in July, a foreigner in the Solomianskyi district in Kyiv, Ukraine, was robbed and murdered for 3 Bitcoin.



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Crypto product record major inflow up to $2.2 billion

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CoinShares, a digital asset manager, reported that last week crypto products saw a major inflow from institutional investors of up to $2.2 billion.

The latest U.S. Election, on Nov. 5, still stimulated the weekly cryptocurrency inflow up to $2.2 billion. The number increased 15% from the previous week by about $1.98 billion.

According to CoinShares’s release, on Nov. 18, digital asset inflows recorded $33.5 billion year-to-date and hit a new peak of under-asset management (AUM) up to $138 billion.

Bitcoin (BTC) saw the largest inflow based on assets last week of around $1.48 billion or equal to 67%. Followed by Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) with inflows $646 million and $23.9 million respectively.

The Beam Chain network upgrade proposal by Justin Drake has increased Ethereum’s inflow from $157 million. Only multi-asset and Binance Coin (BNB) record a week’s outflow.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) recorded the highest surge in crypto product from last week’s inflow up to 63% or up to $2.1 billion. While the rest of the funding recorded an outflow ranging from $8 million to $153 million, including Grayscale and Fidelity.

Crypto product driving factor: U.S. Election

James Butterfill, CoinShares head of research, says a combination of looser monetary policy and a Republican winning a majority of the Congress and Presidency appears to be a driving factor of these inflows.

Donald Trump winning the White House’s second term still brings a positive rally for the cryptocurrency industry, as well as the crypto product. Buterfill has mentioned that Trump’s presidency would bring crypto-friendly regulations and fiscal policy.

Earlier, Trump picked several names for secretary on his cabinet who identified as pro-crypto personalities including Elon Musk, Tom Emmer, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Bitcoin Act, who were proposed by Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, and the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve also boosts the crypto investor’s confidence. He also mentioned this favorable outlook may bring the best potential of Bitcoin in the future.

“The next four years may witness an unprecedented level of institutional support, increased government interest, and broader public adoption, setting the stage for Bitcoin to further solidify its place in the global financial landscape,” Buterfill mentioned in the other report.



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MicroStrategy raises $1.75 billion to acquire more Bitcoin

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MicroStrategy announced it would raise the private offering of convertible senior notes to $1.75 billion, as they acquire $4.6 billion Bitcoin to holdings on the same day.

According to the company’s official statement on Nov. 18, MicroStrategy is raising funding to buy more Bitcoin in the future through private offerings that qualify as institutional buyers. The number of offers is up to $1.75 billion with a convertible senior note due on December 1, 2029.

The notes were sold for U.S. buyers with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and available for certain non-U.S. buyers with Regulation S under the same act. Additionally, the funding is not only used for acquiring more Bitcoin but also uses for general corporate purposes.

Initial purchasers of the notes would have an option to purchase an additional $250 million aggregate principal amount of the notes. MicroStrategy would propose the notes offering on Nov. 19 on video webinar.

MicroStrategy allowed the notes to be converted into their class A common stock, cash, and a combination of both. The latest time they offered the same notes was on September 20, 2024.

MicroStrategy acquires $4.6 billion Bitcoin on the same day

Executive chairman Michael Saylor in his X post on Nov. 18, announced the company acquired 51,780 Bitcoin, or equivalent to $4.6 billion. The average price of the Bitcoin is $88,627.

This acquisition doubled the previous buying and now they spend $16.5 billion in Bitcoin. As of Nov. 17, the company’s acquires 331,200 Bitcoin, or equal to 1,57% of the total Bitcoin supply.

MicroStrategy’s average Bitcoin price now is around $49,847 or 47% below Bitcoin’s all-time high of $93,477. They also have an unrealized profit of up to $13 billion.

Since the company based in Tysons Corner, Virginia announced the Bitcoin acquisition for the first time in 2020, the share has risen to 2,400% from $15 to $384 today.



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Poland Could Lead with Bitcoin Reserve, Presidential Hopeful Says

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They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that’s not just a metaphor, it’s a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling – right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he’s one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian’s all work and no play? Not a chance! When he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian’s got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here’s the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day – and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors – and bosses – he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.



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