Researchers examining a well-preserved human skeleton recently excavated in Vietnam concluded that the man was about 35 years old when he died some 12,000 years ago and was mortally injured by a projectile tipped with quartz. The quartz shows signs of “human workmanship” and the skeleton shows signs of recovery from the wound: he was killed, then, by a subsequent infection rather than the projectile itself. The mystery of his death is outlined in TBH1: 12 000-year-old human skeleton and projectile point shed light on demographics and mortality in Terminal Pleistocene Southeast Asia, published this month in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The paucity of well-preserved and dated Pleistocene human remains impedes investigation of demographics and interactions in Late Pleistocene populations in Southeast Asia. Here, we report TBH1, an exceptionally well-preserved approximately 35-year-old male skeleton dated 12 500–12 000 years before present that provides rare insights into these debates. Superior preservation permitted detailed testing of different models of biological affinity and recovery of the earliest mitochondrial DNA evidence from Vietnam. Morphometric analyses indicated an affiliation with extant Southeast Asian Island populations, but with closest overall affiliation with regional Late Pleistocene data. Mitochondrial DNA sequencing showed unambiguous clustering within the M macrohaplogroup and a relationship with the early hunter–gatherer populations of South and Southeast Asia. While osteological analysis indicated good health during life, localized trauma to an accessory cervical rib was detected together with a small quartz flake with characteristics of a micropoint—an exotic technology within existing paradigms—in the immediate superio-posterior thoracic region. A case for a premortem timing for this injury, inflicted by the artefact, is presented. The trauma and subsequent infection are the likely cause of death and, to our knowledge, the earliest indication of interpersonal conflict from mainland Southeast Asia.

In summary, it looks like he got in a fight with someone: “his case may be the earliest evidence of conflict between hunter-gatherers in mainland Southeast Asia.”

The traumatic neck injury was revealed due to the presence of a cervical rib, rare in humans, with damage matching a fragment of opaque quartz 0.7 of an inch long. The small size suggests a small projectile rather than a more substantial weapon such as a spear.

It bore carving marks commonly seen in stone tools from the period. But there were no other quartz tools in the cave, making the projectile point potentially an “exotic technology” that originated elsewhere, according to the study.

Check out the facial reconstruction. That’s a hard 35.

A man from the United Kingdom who accidentally misplaced his crypto wallet containing a $1 billion stash of Bitcoin (BTC) is launching a new bid to tokenize his missing stash.

In a post on the social media platform X, James Howells – a man who mistakenly threw away his crypto wallet containing the BTC nearly a decade ago – says he’s not giving up despite being rejected numerous times by the Newport City Council to launch a search to find the coins.

“For over 12 years, I tried everything to engage with Newport City Council: public proposals, percentages, mediation, legal action, and a formal $25 million offer. $1 Billion and they ignored it all. No response. No logic. No leadership. They want me to give up, but I am done asking for permission.”

Howells says he’s going to tokenize the entire missing wallet, which contains 8,000 BTC, by launching a new blockchain called Ceiniog Coin (INI) that is set to launch in late 2025.

“I’m tokenizing the entire wallet – 8,000 BTC – into 800 billion Ceiniog Coin (INI) – 1:1 satoshi value match.

• • Built on Bitcoin
• • Powered by OP_RETURN
• • Integrates with Stacks, Runes, Ordinals
• • Launching Late-2025

To the established and distinguished gatekeepers who blocked me for over a decade: You can block the gates. You can pack the courts. But you cannot block the blockchain. Crypto already won. Ceiniog is coming – and your world is collapsing.”

According to previous reports, Howells offered the city council $70 million in 2021 for permission to search the landfill to recover his hard drive, but was rejected due to environmental concerns.

In February, the city council announced that the landfill was formally closing down sometime during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

BTC is trading for $115,429 at time of writing, a 2% gain on the day.

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Crypto exchange Coinbase has sued an alleged cybersquatter over the domain coinbase.de, which it says has been used to redirect users to an app used to trade physical coins and to potentially extort the exchange into buying it. 

Coinbase sued Tobias Honscha from Isernhagen, Germany, in a California federal court on Thursday, claiming he is squatting on the domain coinbase​.de to use for different purposes, including redirecting visitors to his app for trading physical coins and making money as a Coinbase affiliate. 

“Coinbase recently became aware that Honscha is using and trafficking in the domain coinbase​.de in bad faith to capitalize on the goodwill that Coinbase has developed in the Coinbase name over the past decade and more,” the exchange said in a lawsuit. 

Cybersquatting, or domain squatting, involves buying a web domain name similar to an existing well-known brand. Phishing scammers often use the practice to trick unwitting users, while some domain owners will try to sell the domain to the trademark holder for a profit.

URL broke Coinbase affiliate agreement, exchange claims

Coinbase claimed Honscha had, at one time, used the domain name to host his affiliate link to the crypto exchange, fetching rewards for those who sign up through it.

The company said this violated its affiliate agreement, which says an affiliate link can’t “masquerade as being the same as Coinbase” or use the words “Coinbase or Coin Base” in domain names. 

“Honscha violated the terms of the Affiliate Agreement by using the coinbase​.de domain, which fully incorporates the COINBASE trademark and gives the impression that Honscha is one in the same with Coinbase,” the complaint read. 

Coinbase claims pressure to buy domain at “inflated price”

The exchange accused Honscha of attempting “to profit from the domain by threatening potential fraud or cybercrimes unless Coinbase pays an inflated price.”

Coinbase claimed that in conversations with Honscha, he noted the “‘risks of a phishing attack via the Coinbase email account’” along with “‘unsolicited submission of ID documents, passwords, and one-time 2FA codes’ if Coinbase were to not purchase the domain from Honscha.”

“This is a clear attempt to hold Coinbase hostage by threatening to offload it to a buyer who would weaponize it even more,” the company said. 

Coinbase says domain used for other means, including email

Coinbase claimed that after it told Honscha to stop using the domain to host his affiliate link, the site was then used to redirect visitors to a mobile app for trading physical coins.

The company also accused Honscha of “operating an email service through the @coinbase​.de email account,” which would allow him to communicate with and get sensitive information from “individuals who may mistakenly believe they are communicating with Coinbase.”

Related: Dragonfly to ‘vigorously defend’ itself against DOJ scrutiny over Tornado Cash investment

“These mistaken emails have and will continue to occur,” Coinbase wrote in the complaint. “The public may very well expect that a company’s corporate or product website can be found at a domain name that consists of or includes that company’s name or trademark or variations thereof.”

At the time of writing, the domain redirected to a forum for discussing physical coins, which listed Honscha as a “responsible person” for the site. An email listed on the site did not immediately return a request for comment.

Coinbase has asked the court to grant it damages and profits from Honscha’s alleged misuse of the domain, to stop him from using it, and to possibly transfer the domain to Coinbase.

The company is also seeking damages over Honscha’s alleged breach of the affiliate contract, including commissions he might have received through the domain.

Magazine: Coinbase hack shows the law probably won’t protect you — Here’s why

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/coinbase-sues-man-using-a-coinbase-like-url-to-make-money/feed/ 0 50058 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/man-jailed-for-40-million-crypto-fraud-after-running-fake-coin-platforms/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/man-jailed-for-40-million-crypto-fraud-after-running-fake-coin-platforms/#respond Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:16:10 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/man-jailed-for-40-million-crypto-fraud-after-running-fake-coin-platforms/

A 57-year-old man from the US has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for leading a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme that took over $40 million from investors.

Dwayne Golden received a 97-month prison term from a federal judge in Brooklyn, following a fraud case involving EmpowerCoin, ECoinPlus, and Jet-Coin.

The Department of Justice stated in a statement that Golden and his business partners tricked people by claiming their companies were involved in global crypto trading and promised guaranteed profits.

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These companies operated for a few months in 2017, between April and August. After they shut down, Golden and his co-founders tried to block investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and a federal grand jury. They were accused of hiding or destroying evidence and giving false statements to investigators.

US Attorney Joseph Nocella said the companies did not provide any real services, and none of them ever carried out any cryptocurrency trades as claimed. He added that the group exploited people’s interest in new technology to gain their trust and steal their money.

Golden was also ordered to give up around $2.46 million. One of the others involved, William White, has already been sentenced to 30 months in prison. The other two, Gregory Aggesen and Marquis Egerton, are still waiting for their sentences.

FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia described Golden’s actions as dishonest and said the sentence should serve as a warning to others who plan to commit similar crimes.

Currently, authorities are asking people who lost money in the scam to submit their claims through the FBI’s official website for restitution.

Recently, Valeria Fedyakina, who called herself “Bitmama”, was sentenced to seven years in prison for leading a large-scale but short-lived Bitcoin
BTC


$109,186.75

scam. How did the case unfold? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.

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Hongji Feng

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Hongji Feng

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Hongji is a crypto and tech reporter. He graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s. He has previously interned at HTX (Huobi Global),…

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June 26, 2025

A Nigerian national pleaded guilty in Boston federal court on June 25 to charges related to laundering funds obtained through online romance fraud, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, 35, admitted to mail fraud and two counts of money laundering. Prosecutors said he controlled cryptocurrency accounts used to move victim funds and accessed them remotely from overseas. His sentencing is scheduled for September 23.

Romance Scam Money Laundering Network Tied to Crypto

According to court documents, the scheme ran from 2016 to 2019 and involved six U.S. victims. The individuals were recruited through social media and dating platforms and persuaded to send money under false pretenses, such as medical emergencies or legal fees.

Authorities said one Massachusetts victim unknowingly received funds from five others and then transferred the money to Nwadavid via cryptocurrency.

The transactions were processed through LocalBitcoins, an online peer-to-peer platform. Nwadavid allegedly directed the transfers while abroad using online access credentials.

He was indicted in January 2024 and arrested in April 2025 upon arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from the United Kingdom.

Security Company Accused of Moving $123M via Crypto

Australian authorities recently charged four people in connection with an alleged A$190 million (~US$123 million) laundering scheme involving cryptocurrency and a Gold Coast security firm. The group moved illicit funds through courier services and converted them into crypto, blending them with legitimate business revenue.

The network used dead drops in multiple cities and air transport to move cash into Queensland. Some of the funds were funneled through a car dealership and a sales promotion company.

Authorities seized around A$21 million (~US$13 million) in assets, including 17 properties and several vehicles, and carried out 14 search warrants in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Law enforcement agencies are expanding cross-border coordination and blockchain surveillance to track crypto-linked fraud. Peer-to-peer platforms and foreign exchanges often limit recovery, especially when victims are used to move funds unknowingly.

Authorities warn that enforcement tools are still catching up. While blockchain data offers visibility, gaps in regulation and technical capacity continue to hinder timely intervention.

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According to a recent Kitco News interview, Salinas Ricardo Pliego, founder and chairman of Grupo Salinas and Mexico’s third‑richest man, has stepped up his Bitcoin buying.

Bitcoin trades at $104,900, down over 6% from its all‑time high of $112,000. Pliego isn’t fazed by the drop. He’s loading up while others hesitate.

Pliego Ups Bitcoin Exposure

He already holds about 70% of his portfolio in Bitcoin. Based on reports, he boosted that share again last week. He didn’t share exact figures, but called it a “considerable increment.” He isn’t waiting for the perfect price. He just wants more coins in his wallet before what’s next.

Market Dip Seen As Buying Chance

Bitcoin’s slide came after Middle East tensions rattled markets. Yet Pliego says his moves aren’t tied to war news. He sees every dip as a chance to buy. Other big players are doing the same. That trend leaves fewer coins moving between wallets and exchanges. On‑chain data shows wallet balances for the largest holders climbing even as prices slip.

Inflation Hedge Arguments

Pliego has warned that fiat currency loses value over time. He pointed out that the US dollar lost about 90% of its purchasing power over the past 40 years. He echoed Strategy’s Michael Saylor when he called Bitcoin a shield against money printing. Pliego even wrote a book, “The Bitcoin Enlightenment,” where he argued that the crypto marks the end of fiat.

Long‑Term Outlook Remains Strong

The tycoon admits Bitcoin can swing wildly when big economic news hits. He said holders should look past daily charts. “Focus on where this thing is going,” he told Kitco News.

He isn’t alone. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong thinks nations will hold more digital assets than gold down the road. That idea gives Pliego plenty of confidence.

Image: BCB Group

Betting Big On Crypto

Pliego has hinted he may go all in one day. That would put every peso he owns into crypto. It’s a bold plan. It’s also a risky one, given the crypto asset’s history of 5-10% moves in a day. Still, his voice carries weight. When a billionaire piles in, others pay attention.

Salinas Ricardo Pliego is betting big on Bitcoin’s future. He’s buying at $104,701, even after a 6% pullback. He sees Bitcoin as a way to dodge inflation and come out ahead.

For now, he’s stacking sats and urging everyone else to get on board. If his bet pays off, early buyers could reap huge gains. If not, they could face steep losses. Either way, Pliego’s moves show that confidence in Bitcoin remains strong among the richest investors.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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There are many reasons to spend time in Vienna, Austria. For starters, it’s gorgeous. Despite how much of downtown was destroyed by Allied bombing runs during World War II, much of the old city remained intact when the Nazi finally screamed “uncle.”

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is an absolute stunner and free to visit. In the winter, you wouldn’t want to miss the city’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral is an absolute stunner and free to visit. In winter, you won’t want to miss the city’s Christmas market — maybe hit Cafe Central for a Maria Theresia (orange liqueur and whipped cream jazzing up a double espresso) — and take in some music at the Vienna State Opera.

None of this even scratches the surface of the cultured trouble you can get into in this amazing city. No matter what you do with your time there, I suggest you don’t miss my favorite attraction in Austria: The Third Man Museum. It’s dedicated to preserving the history of what could be called one of the greatest films ever made. If you haven’t seen it, that’s a sin you should correct as quickly as possible, if for nothing else than the glory of Orson Welles’ Cuckoo Clock speech.

The museum is the passion project of Gerhard Strassgschwandtner and his partner, Karin Höfler. Since opening 20 years ago, Strassgschwandtner has refused any funding or assistance from local or state agencies — taking their cash would mean giving up his independence in running the place. Step inside the front door and you’ll be glad he opted to go it alone. The museum spans multiple floors — 400 square meters of real estate — and not an iota of it is wasted on frivolity. Two decades of constant collecting with only two people to catalog means some items might go unrecorded. But when I spoke to him a few years ago, Strassgschwandtner estimated that the museum housed around 3,000 items associated with The Third Man and the decade after the war when Vienna was occupied by the Allies.

The museum’s Wikipedia page gives a good accounting of its collection highlights. However, in my opinion, the main draw of the Third Man Museum is Strassgschwandtner himself: his passion for the film, knowledge of everything about its production, and deep love for Vienna are well worth the price of admission. There’s a fire of joyful intelligence in his eyes as he talks about Anton Karas’ zither (used to score the film’s music) and shares tidbits about Trevor Howard, Orson Welles, Herbert Halbik, and the rest of the cast. Letters from the film’s writer, Graham Greene, and director Carol Reed? He’s got those, and he’ll tell you all about them. Chat with Strassgschwandtner for a few minutes and you’ll feel like you’ve made a new friend.

The museum is within walking distance of the Vienna Naschmark (night market). Get on it, friendos.

Authorities reported the 35-year-old, who lives in the Poltava region, had been looking for weak spots in the digital systems of various companies since at least 2018.

Police claimed he gained access to over 5,000 user accounts at one international hosting service that rents out servers for websites and online tools.

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After gaining access to the accounts, he allegedly set up virtual machines and installed mining software to generate cryptocurrency, using the company’s resources without paying for them.

This type of activity, also known as cryptojacking, reportedly resulted in over $4.4 million in losses for the hosting company.

When police searched the suspect’s home, they found laptops, phones, banking cards, and other equipment. Investigators said the devices contained information linked to illegal activity, including email account details, cryptocurrency wallets, and programs used to remotely manage and control mining operations.

The suspect had reportedly been moving between different locations in the Poltava, Odesa, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions to evade capture.

The man has been charged with unlawfully interfering with electronic communications networks. If found guilty, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

On May 21, Jacob Irwin-Cline, a US tourist, lost $123,000 in XRP
XRP


$2.26