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Friendly Fraud: The Hidden Enemy of the Cryptocurrency World
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not represent the views and opinions of the crypto.news editorial team.
When you think about cryptocurrency fraud risks, improper chargebacks may not be the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, because cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, accepting cryptocurrency generally protects merchants from the risk of improper chargebacks.
However, cryptocurrency chargebacks can be a major problem for exchanges that handle cryptocurrency purchases using fiat currencies. In fact, friendly fraud is increasingly straining exchanges’ operations and hindering their ability to build trust with merchants, financial institutions, and regulators.
In response, Visa has now implemented new rules governing fiat-to-crypto transactions: a promising sign, but also a reminder that crypto stakeholders need to take friendly fraud management seriously. Indeed, companies’ ability to put effective processes in place to manage and mitigate friendly fraud will be a key test of the cryptocurrency space’s ability to mature in the months and years ahead.
How Friendly Fraud Impacts the Cryptocurrency World
Cryptocurrencies have truly gone mainstream: today, a staggering figure 580 million people (7% of the world’s population) own cryptocurrencies, with their ownership growing by a third globally in the last year alone.
The rapid adoption of cryptocurrencies offers great opportunities for economic growth, financial inclusion, and technological innovation. But it also brings challenges: while there are many legitimate reasons to love cryptocurrencies, bad actors are also increasingly attracted to digital currencies. In fact, the same characteristics that make cryptocurrencies so attractive—anonymity, flexibility, transaction speed, and irreversibility—also make them a magnet for friendly scammers.
Think of it this way: if someone buys a couch using a credit card and then uses a fake chargeback to reverse the transaction, they end up with a couch they didn’t pay for. But if they buy Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH) using a credit card and then canceling the transaction, they find themselves in possession of pre-laundered cash that can be transferred or spent easily, untraceably and on a large scale.
As a result, friendly fraudulent transactions are on the rise. So are social engineering scams, with criminals becoming increasingly skilled at manipulating users into authorizing fraudulent transactions, often leading to transaction reversals as scammed consumers try to get their money back.
The sheer volatility of the cryptocurrency market, meanwhile, adds another layer of complexity to handling chargebacks. Most buyers see cryptocurrency not simply as a store of value, but as a speculative play. When cryptocurrency prices rise, the buyer wins, but when cryptocurrency falls, exchanges often see a wave of friendly fraud as buyers use the chargeback process to reverse ill-fated trades and recoup losses.
The risk for trade
Inevitably, the rise in friendly fraud is leading to significant losses for cryptocurrency exchanges as they shoulder the cost of reversed transactions and work to manage the increased administrative burden of contesting chargeback disputes. The impact goes beyond financial losses, however. Chargebacks also strain exchanges’ relationships with consumers, forcing them to exercise a new level of scrutiny and due diligence that some consider antithetical to cryptocurrency culture.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, false chargebacks can leave exchanges facing a wave of disputes that distort their chargeback-to-transaction ratios, potentially pushing the exchange into high-risk payment network monitoring programs. Once in these programs, companies face higher fees, significant penalties, and ultimately the risk of losing card processing privileges altogether if the ratios aren’t brought back in line.
And of course, in the middle of the Fallout from the FTX Crashcryptocurrency exchanges are now in front of increased scrutiny from global regulators. A series of rule changes and licensing requirements will leave exchanges struggling to keep up, and leave them with even less time and fewer resources with which to address chargebacks.
Visa’s new regulation
Regulatory changes aren’t the only political consideration for cryptocurrency operators, however. Visa’s updated rules for fiat-to-crypto transactions also signal a major shift in how the payments giant approaches fraud prevention in the cryptocurrency space.
Under the new scheme, cryptocurrency exchanges and onramp providers will face increased scrutiny and obligations around transaction monitoring, risk management, and chargeback liability. Merchants will have to provide greater transparency to customers at the point of sale, with clear disclosures about fees, volatility risks, and refund policies.
In particular, transactions involving multiple digital assets or a mix of crypto and non-crypto products will have to be processed separately, adding operational complexity for platform operators. The rules also introduce new requirements on merchant category codes (MCC) and other technical processing details, which can impact everything from approval rates to interchange fees.
For exchanges, navigating these changes will require a combination of agility, technical expertise, and robust fraud prevention solutions. Partnerships with experienced payments experts who deeply understand the complexities of card network rules will also be key.
Prevention and mitigation
To effectively combat cryptocurrency chargebacks, exchanges will need to adopt a multifaceted approach that includes both preventative measures and effective dispute management.
In terms of prevention, operators should focus on increasing customer trust through clear communication and 24-hour support. This includes unambiguous terms and conditions, transparent refund and return policies, and responsive customer service. Clear billing descriptors on credit card statements can also help prevent confusion or unintended charges.
When it comes to handling disputes, exchanges need systems that can handle the unique chargeback reason codes and evidentiary requirements associated with cryptocurrency transactions. Here’s where to leverage the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning can be a game changer for chargeback mitigation. AI/ML tools can be used to optimize the proofing process by uncovering weaknesses and running tests to improve win rates on those weaknesses across merchants. This allows for a more personalized response per case and continues to improve over time.
On the other hand, for fraud prevention, AI and ML can analyze vast amounts of transactional data to identify patterns and warning signs. These tools adapt in real time to evolving fraud tactics, providing a proactive approach to detect and prevent fraudulent activity before it escalates. By continuously learning from new data, AI/ML systems improve their ability to protect exchanges from sophisticated fraud schemes.
By leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, businesses can maximize win rates and keep chargeback rates below thresholds that would trigger increased scrutiny from card networks.
Building a Trusted Crypto Ecosystem
Ultimately, the cryptocurrency industry’s continued success depends on its ability to build trust—with users, regulators, and the broader financial system. Effective, user-friendly fraud mitigation will be a critical component in building that trust.
By investing in solid infrastructure and staying abreast of evolving regulatory requirements, exchanges can not only protect their operations, but also help create a safer and more secure ecosystem for all participants.
Roenen Ben-Ami
Roenen Ben-Amico-founder and Chief Risk Officer of Rightis an expert in the field of payments and chargeback mitigation. Together with co-founder and CEO Ofir Tahor, he has shaped the company’s product and vision since its founding in 2020. Previously, Roenen led the Chargeback and Merchant Risk teams at payment service provider Simplex, which successfully recovered millions of dollars annually.
News
Cryptocurrency Price August 1: Bitcoin Dips Below $65K; Solana, XRP Down Up To 8%
Major cryptocurrencies fell in Thursday trading following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep its key interest rate unchanged. Overnight, the U.S. Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate at 5.25-5.5% for the eighth consecutive time, as expected, while also signaling the possibility of a rate cut at its next meeting in September. The unanimous decision by the Federal Open Market Committee reflects a continued wait-and-see approach as it monitors inflation trends.
CoinSwitch Markets Desk said: “Bitcoin has fallen below $65,000 after the US Federal Reserve announced it would keep interest rates unchanged. However, with markets now anticipating rate cuts at the next Federal Reserve meeting in September, the outlook for a Bitcoin rally by the end of the year has strengthened.”
Meanwhile, CoinDCX research team said: “The crypto market has plunged after the Fed decision. Tomorrow’s US unemployment rate announcement is expected to induce more volatility, with the ‘actual’ figure coming in higher than the ‘expected’ one, which is positive for cryptocurrencies.”
At 12:21 pm IST, Bitcoin (BTC) was down 3.2% at $64,285, while Ethereum was down nearly 4.5% at $3,313. Meanwhile, the global market cryptocurrency The market capitalization fell 3.6% to around $2.3 trillion in the last 24 hours.
“Bitcoin needs to clear its 200-day EMA at $64,510 to consolidate further. Otherwise, a retest of $62,000 could be in the cards,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.
Altcoins and meme coins, such as BNB (3%), Solana (8%), XRP (5.7%), Dogecoin (5%), Cardano (4.6%), Avalanche (4.3%), Shiba Inu (3.8%), Polkadot (3.4%), and Chainlink (4%) also saw declines.
The volume of all stablecoins is now $71.64 billion, which is 92.19% of the total cryptocurrency market volume in 24 hours, according to data available on CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 54.99%. BTC volume in the last 24 hours increased by 23.3% to $35.7 billion.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, opinions and views provided by experts are personal. They do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
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Altcoins WIF, BONK, RUNE, JUP Down 10% While Bitcoin Drops 4%
Altcoins dogwifhat, Bonk, THORChain, and Jupiter have suffered losses of more than 10%, while Bitcoin is down 4% in the last 24 hours.
After a period of relative calm yesterday, July 31, Bitcoin (BTC) price action has seen a drastic change as the cryptocurrency dropped by more than $3,500, bringing its value to $63,300. At the same time, altcoins mirrored this trend, with the total value of liquidated positions rising to nearly $225 million over the course of the day.
Initially, the week started on a positive note for Bitcoin, which reached its highest point since early June, hitting $70,000. However, this peak was short-lived, as it was quickly rejected, leading to a substantial decline, with Bitcoin falling below $65,500.
The cryptocurrency managed to regain some stability, trading comfortably at around $66,800. However, following a Press conference According to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, the value of Bitcoin has fallen again to $64,300, down more than 3% in 24 hours.
BTC Price Chart 24 Hours | Source: crypto.news
The recession coincided with a relationship from the New York Times stating that Iran had called for retaliatory measures against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, increasing the risk of further conflict in the region.
Meanwhile, on the economic front, the Federal Reserve decided to keep its benchmark interest rates in place, offering little information on a planned September rate cut. Powell also hinted that while no concrete decisions have been made on the September adjustment, there is growing consensus that a rate cut is likely.
Amid Bitcoin’s decline, altcoins have suffered even more significant losses. For example, dogwifhat (Wife) saw a 12.4% drop and (DISGUST) has suffered a 10% drop. Other altcoins such as THORChain (RUNE) also fell by 10%, while Jupiter (JUPITER) and the Ethereum naming service (ENS) decreased by 8% and 9% respectively.
Among the largest-cap cryptocurrencies, the biggest losers are Solana (SOL) with a decrease of 8%, (Exchange rate risk) down 6%, Cardano (ADA) down 4%, and both Ethereum (ETH) and Dogecoin (DOGE) recording a decrease of 4.4%.
Data from CoinGlass indicates that approximately 67,000 traders have been negatively impacted by this increased volatility. BTC positions have seen $61.85 million in liquidations, while ETH positions have faced $61 million. In total, the value of liquidated positions stands at $225.4 million at the time of writing.
News
Riot Platforms Sees 52% Drop in Bitcoin Production in Q2
Bitcoin mining firm Riot Platforms has released its second-quarter financial results, highlighting a decline in cryptocurrency mined due to the recent halving.
Colorado-based Bitcoin (BTC) mining company Riot platforms revealed its second quarter financial results, highlighting a significant reduction in mined cryptocurrencies attributed to the recent halving event that took place in early April.
The company reported total revenue of $70 million for the quarter ended July 31, a decline of 8.7% compared to the same period in 2023. Riot Platforms attributed the revenue decline primarily to a $9.7 million decrease in engineering revenue, which was partially mitigated by a $6 million increase in Bitcoin extraction income.
During the quarter, the company mined 844 BTC, representing a decline of over 50% from Q2 2023, citing the halving event and increasing network difficulty as major factors behind the decline. Riot Platforms reported a net loss of $84.4 million, or $0.32 per share, missing Zacks Research forecast a loss of $0.16 per share.
Halving increases competitive pressure
The Colorado-based firm said the average cost of mining one BTC in the second quarter, including energy credits, rose to $25,327, a remarkable 341% increase from $5,734 per BTC in the same quarter of 2023. Despite this significant increase in production costs, the firm remains optimistic about maintaining competitiveness through recent deals.
For example, following the Recent acquisition Cryptocurrency firm Block Mining, Riot has increased its distributed hash rate forecast from 31 EH/s to 36 EH/s by the end of 2024, while also increasing its 2025 forecast from 40 EH/s to 56 EH/s.
Riot Platforms Hashrate Growth Projections by 2027 | Source: Riot Platforms
Commenting on the company’s financials, Riot CEO Jason Les said that despite the halving, the mining company still managed to achieve “significant operational growth and execution of our long-term strategy.”
“Despite this reduction in production available to all Bitcoin miners, Riot reported $70 million in revenue for the quarter and maintained strong gross margins in our core Bitcoin mining business.”
Jason Les
Following its Q2 financial report, Riot Platforms shares fell 1.74% to $10.19, according to Google Finance data. Meanwhile, the American miner continues to chase Canadian rival Bitfarms, recently acquiring an additional 10.2 million BITF shares, increasing its stake in Bitfarms to 15.9%.
As previously reported by crypto.news, Riot was the first announced a $950 million takeover bid for Bitfarms in late May, arguing that Bitfarms’ founders were not acting in the best interests of all shareholders. They said their proposal was rejected by Bitfarms’ board without substantive engagement.
In response, Bitfarms She said that Riot’s offer “significantly understates” its growth prospects. Bitfarms subsequently implemented a shareholder rights plan, also known as a “poison pill,” to protect its strategic review process from hostile takeover attempts.
News
Aave Price Increases Following Whales Accumulation and V3.1 Launch
Decentralized finance protocol Aave is seeing a significant spike in whale activity as the market looks to recover from the recent crash that pushed most altcoins into key support areas earlier this week.
July 31, Lookonchain shared details indicating that the whales had aggressively accumulated Aave (AAVE) over the past two days. According to the data, whales have withdrawn over 58,848 AAVE worth $6.47 million from exchanges during this period.
In one instance, whale address 0x9af4 withdrew 11,185 AAVE worth $1.23 million from Binance. Meanwhile, another address moved 21,619 AAVE worth over $2.38 million from the exchange and deposited the tokens into Aave.
These withdrawals follow a previous transfer of 26,044 AAVE from whale address 0xd7c5, amounting to over $2.83 million withdrawn from Binance.
AAVE price has surged over 7% in the past 24 hours amid buy-side pressure from these whales. The DeFi token is currently trading around $111 after jumping over 18% in the past week.
Recently, the price of AAVE increased by over 8% after Aave founder Marc Zeller announced a proposed fee change aimed at adopting a buyback program for AAVE tokens.
Aave v3.1 is available
The total value locked in the Aave protocol currently stands at around $22 billion. According to DeFiLlamaApproximately $19.9 billion is on Aave V3, while the V2 chain still holds approximately $1.9 billion in TVL and V1 approximately $14.6 million.
Aave Labs announced Previously, Aave V3.1 was made available on all networks with active Aave V3 instances.
V3.1 features improvements that are intended to improve the overall security of the DeFi protocol. The Aave DAO governance has approved the v3.1 improvements, which also include operational efficiency and usability for the network.
Meanwhile, Aave Labs recently outlined a ambitious roadmap for the projectwith a 2030 vision for Aave V4, among other developments.
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