Anna Baydakova

Anna Baydakova

Anna writes about blockchain projects and regulation with a special focus on Eastern Europe and Russia. She is especially excited about stories on privacy, cybercrime, sanctions policies and censorship resistance of decentralized technologies. She graduated from the Saint Petersburg State University and the Higher School of Economics in Russia and got her Master's degree at Columbia Journalism School in New York City. She joined CoinDesk after years of writing for various Russian media, including the leading political outlet Novaya Gazeta. Anna owns BTC and an NFT of sentimental value.

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CDCROP: Darkweb, darknet and hacking concept. Hacker with cellphone. Man using dark web with smartphone. Mobile phone fraud, online scam and cyber security threat. Scammer using stolen cell. (Getty Images)
Crypto Theft Rose in 2022 as Scams, Ransomware Bounty Fell: Chainalysis
2022 became a year of crypto thefts, but illicit transactions still account only for a meager share of all crypto activity, Chainalysis says.
CDCROP: Darkweb, darknet and hacking concept. Hacker with cellphone. Man using dark web with smartphone. Mobile phone fraud, online scam and cyber security threat. Scammer using stolen cell. (Getty Images)
CDCROP: Spinning mixer in water creating bubbles (Getty Images)
Sanctioned Mixer Blender Re-Launched as Sinbad, Elliptic Says
Operators of Blender.io might have launched Sinbad after Blender was sanctioned for processing North Korean hackers’ money, blockchain intel firm said.
CDCROP: Spinning mixer in water creating bubbles (Getty Images)
(IherPhoto/Getty Images)
Coins of War: How Crypto Keeps Feeding Russia's War Despite Sanctions
Russian troops in Ukraine are receiving millions in crypto donations. CoinDesk investigates how these funds are flowing and talks to fundraisers.
(IherPhoto/Getty Images)
U.S. Treasury Department (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
Bitzlato Co-Founder Released After Arrest in Moscow, Pledges Relaunch of Seized Exchange
“I could launch the exchange from my apartment," Anton Shkurenko said of the exchange multinational authorities shut down in January. The Bitzlato team has retained most of its users’ funds and could resume operations quickly, he said.
U.S. Treasury Department (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
(Colin Davis/Unsplash)
Darknet Revenues Fell After Hydra’s Shutdown: Chainalysis
After the infamous drug market Hydra was shut down last year, competitors quickly occupied its place.
(Colin Davis/Unsplash)
(Rachel Sun/CoinDesk)
MiCA at the Door: How European Crypto Firms Are Getting Ready for Sweeping Legislation
Adapting how crypto exchanges operate under the new regulation won’t be easy, but it might make it easier for them to get bank accounts in Europe.
(Rachel Sun/CoinDesk)
Report Says Enforcing KYC and AML Laws Key to Reducing Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware Variants Are on the Rise but Overall Gains Decline: Chainalysis
Victims appear to have become less willing to pay, according to a new report.
Report Says Enforcing KYC and AML Laws Key to Reducing Ransomware Attacks
(Clint Patterson/Unsplash)
Los pagos por secuestros de datos disminuyeron en 2022, según Crystal Blockchain
Las víctimas de ataques por secuestro de datos, también conocido como ransomware, pagaron en criptomonedas a los hackers 4,5 veces menos en 2022 que en 2021, según un nuevo informe.
(Clint Patterson/Unsplash)
(Clint Patterson/Unsplash)
Ransomware Payouts Declined in 2022: Crystal Blockchain
Victims of ransomware attacks paid hackers 4.5 times less in crypto in 2022 than in 2021, according to a new report.
(Clint Patterson/Unsplash)
Andrei Lugovoi
Wanted Russian Parliament Member May Own a Crypto Broker in Moscow: Report
Local media connected Andrei Lugovoi, a Russian politician wanted for serious crimes in the U.K., to a cash-based OTC in Moscow.
Andrei Lugovoi