Tokyo Police Arrest Buyers In $530M Cryptocurrency Hack

Mar 11, 2020 | Compliance Updates, iComply Insights

Two Men Arrested in Japan for Purchasing NEM Cryptocurrency Stolen from Coincheck

What Happened?

On March 11, 2020. Tokyo police arrested two Japanese citizens for alleged possession of NEM cryptocurrency that was stolen from the crypto exchange operator Coincheck in a massive cyberattack in 2018. According to investigative sources, the suspects were aware that the cryptocurrency they acquired was stolen from the exchange.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/03/11/national/crime-legal/tokyo-police-arrest-two-taking-possession-stolen-nem-cryptocurrency/

Who Is Impacted?

Virtual asset service providers, trustees, and OTC traders that buy, sell, or custody cryptocurrencies.

Why This Matters?

Supervisory technology for regulators, financial intelligence units, and law enforcement has become incredibly sophisticated. Firms such as CipherTrace, Elliptic, and Chainalysis allow regulators to follow the money, monitor wallets and entities in real-time, and quickly build a trail of evidence for prosecution. Exchanges and other virtual asset service providers need to respond to requests for information about the cryptocurrency transactions they facilitate.

What’s Next?

Any business that facilitates or promotes cryptocurrency or virtual asset transactions should ensure their anti-money laundering software is capable of identifying high-risk transactions.

Transaction monitoring software such as Alessa or ComplyAdvantage can help firms integrate blockchain data with know your customer (KYC) data, freeze or escalate transactions, and compile suspicious activity reports and regulatory filings.

learn more

Is your AML compliance too expensive, time-consuming, or ineffective?

iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience.

Request a demo today.

Liveness Detection: The Key to Secure and Seamless Identity Verification
Liveness Detection: The Key to Secure and Seamless Identity Verification

Liveness Detection: The Future of Identity Verification

Enhance security and streamline workflows with liveness detection. Learn how this technology is transforming identity verification and why businesses should move beyond outdated methods like selfie uploads and emailed IDs.

How to Build an AML Program: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Build an AML Program: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to build an AML program with this step-by-step guide. Follow Mark, a UK fintech cofounder, as he creates a compliant AML framework with streamlined policies, KYB/KYC automation, and team training using iComply’s platform. Save time, reduce costs, and ensure regulatory confidence.

Vaidyanathan Chandrashekhar

Vaidyanathan Chandrashekhar

Advisors

“Chandy,” is a technology and risk expert with executive experience at Boston Consulting Group, Citi, and PwC. With over two decades in financial services, digital transformation, and enterprise risk, he advises iComply on scalable compliance infrastructure for global markets.
Thomas Linder

Thomas Linder

Advisors

Thomas is a global tax and compliance expert with deep specialization in digital assets, blockchain, and tokenization. As a partner at MME Legal | Tax | Compliance, he advises iComply on regulatory strategy, cross-border compliance, and digital finance innovation.
Thomas Hardjono

Thomas Hardjono

Advisors

Thomas is a renowned identity and cybersecurity expert, serving as CTO of Connection Science at MIT. With deep expertise in decentralized identity, zero trust, and secure data exchange, he advises iComply on cutting-edge technology and privacy-first compliance architecture.
Rodney Dobson

Rodney Dobson

Advisors

Rodney is the former President of ADP Canada and international executive with over two decades of leadership in global HR and enterprise technology. He advises iComply with deep expertise in international service delivery, M&A, and scaling high-growth operations across regulated markets.
Praveen Mandal

Praveen Mandal

Advisors

Praveen is a serial entrepreneur and technology innovator, known for leadership roles at Lucent Bell Labs, ChargePoint, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator. He advises iComply on advanced computing, scalable infrastructure, and the intersection of AI, energy, and compliance tech.
Paul Childerhose

Paul Childerhose

Advisors

Paul is a Canadian RegTech leader and founder of Maple Peak Group, with extensive experience in financial services compliance, AML, and digital transformation. He advises iComply on regulatory alignment, operational strategy, and scaling compliance programs in complex markets.
John Engle

John Engle

Advisors

John is a seasoned business executive with senior leadership experience at CIBC, UBS, and Accenture. With deep expertise in investment banking, private equity, and digital transformation, he advises iComply on strategic growth, partnerships, and global market expansion.
Jeff Bandman

Jeff Bandman

Advisors

Jeff is a former CFTC official and globally recognized expert in financial regulation, fintech, and digital assets. As founder of Bandman Advisors, he brings deep insight into regulatory policy, market infrastructure, and innovation to guide iComply’s global compliance strategy.
Greg Pearlman

Greg Pearlman

Advisors

Greg is a seasoned investment banker with over 35 years of experience, including leadership roles at BMO Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup. Greg brings deep expertise in financial strategy and growth to support iComply's expansion in the RegTech sector.
Deven Sharma

Deven Sharma

Advisors

Deven is the former President of S&P and a globally respected authority in risk, data, and capital markets. With decades of leadership across financial services and tech, he advises iComply on strategic growth, governance, and the future of trusted data in AML compliance.