While Bitcoin and Ethereum pretend to be ready for a new bull cycle — which, according to recent data, is far from the case — online fraud stopped being the scope of lone con artists long ago.

By 2025, global losses from online scams had reached $442 billion, and the schemes have evolved into a full?blown industry with specialized suppliers, standardized business models and complex supply chains. The epicenter of this ecosystem has become the so?called "guarantee platforms" — marketplaces where thousands of sellers trade personal data, technological infrastructure for deceiving victims and money?laundering services. The largest of them was Huione Guarantee, which processed some $31 billion in transactions and eclipsed even the legendary Silk Road in scale.

Remarkably, most settlements were conducted in Tether's USDT on the TRON blockchain — a setup that allowed operators to circumvent banking AML checks.

In 2025, the US FinCEN designated Huione Group as a major money?laundering organization, Telegram blocked thousands of its channels, and in 2026, the group's chairman was extradited to China. Rather than destroying the system, however, these actions exposed its true nature: new platforms sprang up to replace the shut ones. Xinbi Guarantee, which processed $21 billion in transactions, after being blocked simply recreated channels on the same Telegram and continued operating — now with an audience of over half a million users. Notably, Telegram explained its reluctance to continue blocking by citing concern for the "financial freedom" of Chinese users.

Many experts have repeatedly pointed out that Tether, as a payment mechanism, still faces no real accountability. Analysts insist on a coordinated international mandate requiring messaging platforms to shut down such marketplaces and obliging stablecoin issuers to freeze implicated wallets. For now, however, blocks on the Tron network occur only after criminal cases are opened, and official requests are made by authorities.

Trading recommendations

Bitcoin

Buyers are currently targeting a return to $78,400, which would open a direct path to $80,100, and from there, $81,700 is within reach — a break above which would signal attempts to resume a bull market. On the downside, buyers are expected around $76,500; a drop back below that area could quickly push BTC toward $74,700. The longer?term target would be the $73,100 area.

Ethereum

A clear close above $2,146 opens the direct road to $2,222. The longer?term target is the high around $2,291; surpassing that would indicate strengthening bullish sentiment and renewed buyer interest. On the downside, buyers are expected at $2,084; a fall back below that area could quickly push ETH toward $1,997. The longer?term target would be the $1,911 area.

What's on the chart

• The red lines represent support and resistance levels, where price is expected to either pause or react sharply.
• The green line shows the 50-day moving average.
• The blue line is the 100-day moving average.
• The lime line is the 200-day moving average.

Price testing or crossing any of these moving averages often either halts movement or injects fresh momentum into the market.