Spanish Aristocrat Arrested Over Alleged Crypto Scheme with Virgil Griffith
Alejandro Cao de Benos, a Spanish aristocrat, has been detained by Spanish authorities for his involvement in a cryptocurrency scheme. He is accused of recruiting Ethereum researcher Virgil Griffith to help North Korea evade international sanctions. The US Department of Justice had previously accused de Benos of engaging in illegal activities related to crypto and blockchain services for North Korea.
Key Figure in North Korea Crypto Scheme Sentenced
In 2022, Virgil Griffith was sentenced to over five years in prison for conspiring to aid North Korea in evading US sanctions using cryptocurrency. It is alleged that de Benos played a crucial role in recruiting Griffith for these activities.
de Benos Denies Allegations
In response to the accusations, de Benos took to social media to deny his involvement. He stated that he was arrested by national police officers upon his arrival in Madrid based on an FBI arrest warrant issued through Interpol. De Benos firmly denied hiring or requesting the services of Virgil Griffith and claimed there was no evidence to support such claims.
Extradition Process Begins
De Benos appeared before a Supreme Court judge who released him without conditions pending the extradition process. The United States must formalize the extradition request and provide necessary documentation for the process to proceed. De Benos maintains that there is no extradition, as the US accusation does not exist in Spain.
Market Cap of Global Cryptocurrency Surpasses $1.5 Trillion
The global cryptocurrency market has achieved a significant milestone, with its market capitalization surpassing $1.5 trillion. This represents a 2.63% change in the last 24 hours and a substantial 78.18% change compared to one year ago. Bitcoin remains dominant in the market, accounting for 51.01% of the total cryptocurrency market.
Hot Take: Spanish Aristocrat Arrested for Crypto Scheme Involving North Korea
Spanish aristocrat Alejandro Cao de Benos has been detained by Spanish authorities over allegations of running a crypto scheme and recruiting Ethereum researcher Virgil Griffith to help North Korea evade international sanctions. This arrest comes after Griffith was sentenced to prison in the US for his involvement in conspiring to aid North Korea using crypto. De Benos denies the allegations and claims there is no evidence to support them. The extradition process has been initiated, and de Benos awaits further legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the global cryptocurrency market continues to thrive, with its market cap exceeding $1.5 trillion.
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