Hyperring has released a new Gen2 smart ring for NFC payments that is battery-free, supports multi-factor authentication, stores contact information and is encrypted for security.
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For the first time in history, a Moscow court sentenced the alleged organizer of one of the largest darknet marketplaces, Hydra, to life imprisonment. His 15 accomplices were sentenced to terms ranging from eight to 23 years in prison in high-security prisons.
Operating from 2015 to 2018, Hydra became the largest darknet market in the Russian segment, uniting more than 17 million customers; its annual turnover in 2020 reached 1.34 billion US dollars. Thanks to its carefully thought-out structure and decentralized system, the platform remained anonymous until 2022, when its servers were seized and confiscated in Germany.
The investigation revealed a drug lab, over a ton of illegal substances, vehicles with hidden cash and numerous cryptocurrency transactions. According to experts, Hydra changed the way the darknet platform works by providing clients with detailed coordinates of hiding places to move drugs.
Hydra was shut down by international law enforcement in 2022. Its elimination led to a significant decrease in revenues on the darknet market from $2.6 billion in 2021 to $1.3 billion in 2022. However, research shows that the online drug trade continues to grow with the help of cryptocurrencies and new darknet platforms.
Hydra’s decision demonstrates the determination of Russian law enforcement agencies in the fight against organized crime on the darknet. However, the evolution of online drug trafficking tactics shows that challenges remain.
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