How has the arrest of Telegram’s CEO impacted illicit crypto activity? The answer may surprise you. Read on.

In my Cryptocurrency Crime Explained article series, we discussed the shadowy world of dark net OTC brokers used for crypto-native money laundering, particularly spotlighting Chinese Over-the-Counter (OTC) brokers. These services, typically offered on the dark web and through apps like Telegram, have long provided a veil of secrecy for illicit transactions.

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When Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris at the end of August 2024, the internet, especially the dark web, erupted with speculation. Would Durov allow backdoor access to an app many illicit actors relied on as a secure haven?

For those unaware, Durov was arrested by French authorities on August 25, 2024, at Le Bourget airport, just outside Paris. By August 29, he was formally charged with complicity in the spread of child sexual abuse images, alongside a range of other alleged violations on the Telegram platform.

The aftermath of his arrest was immediate and intense. Panic spread like wildfire across the dark web. Users, especially those entangled in illegal activities, began deleting their accounts and wiping their chat histories in a desperate bid to cover their tracks. The fear was palpable, driven by the growing rumor that Durov might strike a deal — one that could potentially involve opening the door to Telegram’s once impenetrable fortress. For those on the fringes of legality, the app that had been their sanctuary now felt like a ticking time bomb, its fate uncertain. See just one such communication from the Dark Matter Market in the image below.

This wave of uncertainty naturally piqued my curiosity. I wanted to explore the real impact of Durov’s arrest on Over-the-Counter (OTC) crypto brokers and crypto-native money laundering. Despite initial shutdowns, it became apparent that many of these illicit channels quickly resumed operations, almost as if nothing had happened.

OTC brokers on Telegram have become a critical hub for anonymous, high-volume crypto transactions, operating far from the prying eyes of traditional financial regulators. These channels, thriving despite increased scrutiny, connect buyers and sellers in a clandestine marketplace that remains vibrant even after significant events like the arrest of Telegram’s CEO. For instance, several channels, as shown below, continue to flourish, offering OTC services to thousands of users.

Other groups, particularly those rooted in India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, aren’t letting up. They continue to push the exchange of stolen USDT and peddle fake wallets, all crafted for shady dealings. In a quick scrape of Telegram channels, we uncovered over 200 actively offering these services. The underground network, instead of shrinking, seems to be thriving, demonstrating an unsettling level of resilience and adaptability.

While the arrest of Telegram’s CEO initially sent ripples of fear through the dark web, the persistence of these markets underscores the daunting challenge of regulating and policing such platforms. As Telegram remains a favored tool for these illicit activities, it’s clear that any meaningful effort to curb the rise of crypto-native money laundering will require more coordinated, global action.

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