BrokenDAO

Criminals use the financial system to launder illegal proceeds, which is known as money laundering. Money laundering activities not only threaten financial security but also provide funding for organized crime, making them a primary target for global regulators. How exactly does money laundering work? What are the mechanisms behind it?
What is the definition of money laundering? Where are the harms?
Money laundering refers to the act of disguising and concealing the origins and nature of illegal proceeds and profits derived from drug trafficking, organized crime, terrorism, smuggling, or other criminal activities, through various means to make them appear legitimate in form.
Internationally, the definition of money laundering is not entirely uniform. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision describes money laundering from a financial transaction perspective as: criminals and their accomplices transferring funds from one account to another through the financial system to obscure the true source and beneficial ownership of the funds; or utilizing the financial system to provide funds

The article discusses the differences in attitudes and behaviors of the Cao family and the Sima family during the process of dynastic change. The Cao family, after seizing the emperor, implemented policies to stabilize people's livelihoods, leaving a heroic image for future generations; whereas the Sima family seized power through brutal means, ultimately leading to the country's decline. Their governance qualities and understanding of the world are fundamentally different, resulting in vastly different reputations. The common people are most concerned with stable living conditions; Cao's good governance and benevolence earned praise, while Sima's violent rule was met with historical backlash.

Bitcoin is currently facing key technical points, and the market is optimistic about a rebound to $81,000, but there may actually be a trap for stop-loss hunting. Optimistically, it needs to stay above $80,600, but realistically, it may test $70,000-$72,000. February 15th is a critical point, and observing with cash is the most effective strategy. Long-term investors should focus on value transformation rather than short-term fluctuations.

Former Olympic skier Ryan James Wedding was arrested in Mexico for allegedly using Tether stablecoins and cryptocurrency platforms to manage a drug trafficking network, with law enforcement seizing a total of $3.2 million in contraband. The case highlights the vulnerabilities of cryptocurrencies in anti-money laundering regulation and emphasizes the need for international cooperation. In the future, stricter compliance regulation of crypto asset platforms is necessary to prevent criminals from exploiting these channels.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, many people begin to pay close attention to their personal fortunes. Among the various concepts in traditional astrology, "犯太歲" (Fàn Tàisuì) is one of the most frequently mentioned. It is believed that犯太歲 can have an adverse impact on a person's luck for the year. So, which zodiac signs are犯太歲 in 2026? Is it really as frightening as it sounds? How can one resolve or mitigate its effects? This article will provide a comprehensive explanation of the different types of犯太歲 and effective strategies to deal with them.
### What is犯太歲? Why should it be taken seriously?
犯太歲 refers to the conflict or clash between an individual's zodiac sign and the Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter) of the year, based on the Five Elements or Earthly Branches in Chinese astrology. In traditional culture, Tai Sui is regarded as the celestial deity responsible for overseeing the year's luck and fortune. When a person's zodiac sign conflicts with Tai Sui, it is believed that they are more susceptible to experiencing setbacks, obstacles, or misfortunes during that year.
However, it is crucial to understand that犯太歲 does not necessarily mean that the year will be unlucky or disastrous. Instead, it indicates that this particular zodiac sign is more significantly influenced by the magnetic field or energy of Tai Sui in that year, which can lead to fluctuations in fortune. The key lies in awareness and taking appropriate precautions in advance. Often, with proper measures, one can neutralize or even turn potential misfortune into good fortune, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

The change of Federal Reserve Chair in 2026 will profoundly impact the cryptocurrency market. The dovish candidate may promote a bull market, while the hawkish candidate could trigger short-term pain, and the black swan faction may bring extreme volatility. Regardless of who is elected, the USA national debt crisis will lead to rate cuts and liquidity injections, driving Bitcoin's upward trend as an inflation hedge. Investors should cautiously respond to these changes and adjust their holdings based on interest rate fluctuations.

Ethereum's recent daily average transaction processing volume has increased, with low fees per transaction, demonstrating the effectiveness of Layer 2 scaling solutions. Transaction volume has broken historical records, indicating market confidence in Ethereum. However, attention should be paid to the impact of some low-value transactions in the data, and false prosperity should be excluded to analyze actual activity, as this will affect the assessment of ecosystem health.

Bitcoin recently experienced a triangle breakout on the technical chart, with the price oscillating around $83.97K, indicating a potential market structure reversal. The key support level is at 87128, while 89885 serves as an important short-term rebound threshold. Multi-timeframe analysis shows that the current rebound momentum is insufficient; attention should be paid to volume changes to determine the trend direction.

Recently, silver has performed strongly, reflecting a global shift of liquidity into safe-haven assets, especially precious metals. Currently, the market is in a risk-averse phase, and the precious metals bull market is in the initial stage of liquidity transfer, with the crypto market potentially becoming the next target. It is recommended to position during precious metal pullbacks and to use current prices for dollar-cost averaging into Bitcoin and Ethereum, while paying attention to risk management. The key is cash reserves to cope with liquidity risks.

After the release of non-farm employment data, market expectations adjusted, indicating that the US economy faces uncertainty. The new employment population increased by only 50,000, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 4.4%. Policy interventions have intensified market volatility, with the Trump administration attempting to forcibly lower interest rates, and facing tariff rulings and government operation risks, further impacting inflation and the pace of rate cuts.

Egypt has a strict ban on cryptocurrencies and is one of the nine countries in the world with an absolute ban. Many countries have implicit ban policies that restrict crypto businesses. The ban is based on multiple considerations such as financial stability and currency sovereignty protection, reflecting the cautious attitude of countries in the digital economy era.

In cryptocurrency trading, "Vol" stands for volume, which is a measure of the trading activity of a token over a certain period of time. High volume often signals price trend confirmation, while low volume may indicate market silence. Combined with indicators such as RSI and MACD, trading volume can help traders judge market trends more accurately, thereby optimizing trading decisions. Understanding changes in volume is crucial for identifying trends and making rational trades.

Ukraine bans the prediction market platform Polymarket, revealing a legal gap in the Web3 financial innovation landscape. Current laws classify prediction markets as unlicensed gambling, lacking clear legal categories, making regulation difficult. War-related betting has accelerated regulatory actions, while other platforms like Kalshi and PredictIt also face legal risks. In the short term, the likelihood of legal changes is very low, and users have not been held accountable, but future solutions will still take time.

The Portuguese gambling regulatory authority SRIJ recently issued a ban on the Polymarket platform, requiring it to cease operations within 48 hours. This move reflects the regulatory pressures faced by global prediction markets. The Macau gambling regulators responded swiftly to the platform's recent bets exceeding €103 million during the presidential election, as the platform was not legally authorized and political event betting is considered illegal. Meanwhile, many countries worldwide are imposing restrictions on Polymarket, with increased regulatory scrutiny, especially in the United States where regulation of tokenized securities has been strengthened.