Tag: porn

Crypto for Sex: Blockchain Takes Off in the Adult Entertainment Industry

Cryptocurrencies have become increasingly popular in the adult entertainment industry, as it can guarantee a high level of anonymity to its users, especially for pornography-related businesses.   

Anonymity and Privacy  

Many adult entertainment websites have created new ways users will be able to protect their identity details through crypto payment systems. In a research conducted by the studio VogoV last year, 470 adult video sites, 50 webcam platforms, and 35 sex shops worldwide now accept cryptos as a form of payment. Dash, Monero, and Zcash are considered to be the best coins for private transactions for adult content sites.  

Cryptocurrency transactions are recorded anonymously on a decentralized public ledger, making it challenging to track a person’s pornography habits. For the adult webcam industry, transparency and privacy are the most valued features of crypto, as provides authenticity and parties are known only by online handles and payment addresses.   

There is a fear that people in banks or homes will be able to tell which kinds of adult materials a user consumes through their credit card bills. Getting caught viewing or purchasing adult content may cause significant legal and social risks, especially in certain jurisdictions.  

The increasing interest in cryptocurrencies being used in the adult entertainment industry is a signal that cryptos are here to stay. 

SpankChain  

SpankChain is an Ethereum based cryptocurrency payments processor and is focusing on building blockchain-based economic and technical infrastructures for the adult entertainment industry.   

SpankChain recently partnered with the adult entertainment industry fan platform, JustFor.Fans and an anonymity service that connects models with clients via Skype, SkyPrivate. The partnership allowed for a new service, SpankPay, which will enable users to pay with instant transactions with different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, ZCash, and Monero. The merchants will receive a 0.5% processing fee when users use the service.  

JustFor.Fans creator, Dominic Ford, said: “Using SpankChain, we don’t have to worry about being shut down due to the fact we are an adult company. We’d much rather support our fellow adult solution providers than use outside solutions that are potentially not adult-friendly.” CEO of SkyPrivate also stated that this partnership ensures individuals are accorded equal rights and payments for their services, mostly focused on sexting services and adult models service e-commerce platforms.   

Pornhub  

Appealing to the privacy concerns of its users, the leading adult entertainment website Pornhub also started accepting crypto payments and began a partnership with Verge, as well as adding TRON and Zcash as payment options.   

“Here at Pornhub, it’s important that we cater to our users’ ever-changing payment preferences and, as such, that means accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method, which provide users with anonymity and security,” Corey Price, vice president of Pornhub, said at the time. 

Pornhub also partnered with PumaPay to enable recurring cryptocurrency payments for its subscription service.  

CamSoda  

Known as one of the world’s most popular adult entertainment websites, ranking in the top 4000 websites, CamSoda started to accept cryptocurrency payments for various features on its platform.   

Users on the platform can purchase tokens on the website using a variety of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, TRON, Monero, and Zcash. Data shows that 1% of CamSoda users already use cryptos as a payment solution, which was more than initially expected.   

Bitcast, one of the platforms developed by CamSoda in December 2018, allows users to combine interactive sex toys with the performance of the best cryptos. CokcBlockchain, which was launched in March 2018 by CamSoda, is a platform that allows users to earn cryptos in exchange for their nude photos.   

Strippers & Bitcoin  

The Legends Room, a strip club in Las Vegas made the first move allowing clients to be able to pay secretly with cryptocurrencies. The strippers have temporary tattoos of QR codes where clients can scan and pay electronically by using cryptocurrencies, mostly Bitcoin. The Legends Room also launched their own ICO, the token known as LGD.  

Images via Shutterstock

Bitcoin, Crypto and Porn: Will the Adult Industry Boost the Market?

Porn is a huge industry, according to research, as much as 40% of the internet is related to porn. 65% of all web traffic during peak hours is devoted to video and audio streaming. 

Data of Porn every second;

28,000 People watching
$3 million being spent 
372 people are typing the word “Adult” into a search engine

This is data by the second. The market is huge. 

In America, all social media tweets from top platforms including Facebook can reach 30% of bandwidth, with streaming services like Netflix at 33.3%. They don’t come close to the adult entertainment industry numbers.

Porn globally is 40%. Think about that.

Crypto and porn partnerships to date 

“SpankChain is a blockchain-based economic and technological infrastructure built for the Adult Entertainment Industry. By developing a framework, we provide sex workers with the core functionality necessary to create and operate a streaming or static content distribution application, while offering a range of services that provide enhanced functionality for these applications.“ — FAQ

They are offering an Ethereum ERC20 token but accept payments including bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC) and Monero (XMR).

Unfortunately, based on data seen on Coinmarketcap, the volume has been relatively steady but the price of the token continues to drop.  

Crypto for Sex: Blockchain Takes Off in the Adult Entertainment Industry

Pornhub

A multi-billion-dollar company in this field is yet another that has entered into toying with crypto payment features. 

Earlier this year, they partnered with Privacy based crypto platform Verge (XVG). Privacy tokens and this industry certainly make a lot of sense. 

Verge has a larger token economy with a strong market ranking and open-source. 

Pornhub had a reported 92 million visitors per day last year (2018) according to their analytics.

Data was also released stating that 1% of the user base paid in crypto. In response to this, Pornhub made further developments in partnership with crypto payment systems, PumaPay joining the billion-dollar company. 

If the 1% continue to increase, what effect can it apply to the crypto markets?

Is adult entertainment a market for crypto?

“In 2016 enough porn was watched, that if we took all of the data and stored it on USB drives, the distance would get us to the moon.“—Original quote 

It’s one way to get to the moon, right?

Mass adoption will take time, but if Crypto can ride the porn industry to the top, it might happen a little bit faster. 

Currently the main cases against crypto include;

Ease of use 
Design interfaces

In the very worst case, if this market can truly continue to grow, people would have every chance to test, improve and continue to develop our mind set of what cryptocurrency is. 

If we are currently at 1% of this market with major players becoming more determined to adopt the technology, the future can only be a happy one. 

What do you think? Is it a match? Or a left swipe?

Tell us in the comments below.

Image via Shutterstock

South Korea’s Leading Crypto Exchanges Aid Police in Hunting "Nth Rooms" Blackmail Porn Members

The four primary crypto exchanges in South Korea, namely Coinone, Korbit, Bithumb, and Upbit, have reportedly offered to help police investigate the sexual exploitation of underage girls in the “Nth Rooms” scandal that has sparked a national outcry. 

Crypto exchanges table vital information

The sexual exploitation of underage school-going girls in South Korea has been happening for years in the “Nth Rooms” incident. Notably, they would be filmed undertaking violent self-harm and sexual acts, and the videos taken were made available via Telegram chat rooms after members made crypto payments. 

It is reported that at least 10,000 people utilized these chatrooms after paying fees ranging from $200 to $1,200. 

Following thorough investigations by the South Korean police, dozens of victims have been established as the videos usually presented the girls’ addresses and names. Currently, the police have identified 74 people, including 16 underage girls who were exploited.

Crypto exchanges seek to reveal crucial information about this scandal that has left people across the globe mouth agape because of the inhumanity rendered to underage girls. It is alleged that among the 10,000 members in the “Nth Rooms” were famous startup company CEOs, sports stars, popular artists, and professors. 

The ringleader of the blackmails and chat rooms was revealed as 24-year-old Cho Ju-bin after at least 5 million South Koreans signed petitions to have him named. 

Crypto exchanges heed the call

Following requests by the South Korean police for assistance, the four leading crypto exchanges in this nation seek to comply with this appeal by offering crucial information that will be instrumental in unraveling the culprits in the “Nth Rooms” scandal. 

Earlier this month, the country’s national assembly amended the Act on Reporting and Use of Specific Financial Information, and this officiated the legalization of cryptocurrency trading and holding.  

Once implemented, this law will be instrumental in averting crimes, such as the “Nth Rooms” scandal and money laundering given that crypto businesses, such as exchanges, wallet companies, and trusts, will be required to have a real-name verification partnership with an approved local bank. As a result, a verified person will be assigned a single bank account where he/she can deposit and withdraw fiat currency to and from an exchange. 

Image via Shutterstock

New Zealand Police Issues Warning Against “Nasty” Sextortion Blackmail Porn Scam Demanding Bitcoin Ransom

New Zealand police are warning about a new porn blackmail scam that is targeting residents who watch adult content videos in the country. The scam, which threatens to expose porn activities unless a Bitcoin ransom is paid, is moving and doing round. The fraudsters blackmail victims through their emails and threaten to expose their porn-viewing proclivities to the world if they do not pay up.

Senior Detective Sergeant Callum McNeill said that this is not the first time New Zealand residents have experienced such email extortion scams. He stated that such fraudulent activities have been steadily on the rise since 2018 in the country. 

Scammers Prey on Victims

Waitemata police, (in Auckland, New Zealand), are investigating recent reports of the illegal extortion activities demanding victims to pay a ransom in Bitcoin. The police outline that the the fraudsters operate by sending an email to victims informing them that their computer system has been hacked, and a video has been taken through their webcam (screenshots) showing that they have been looking at pornographic sites. Then the fraudsters threaten to send the pornographic videos to friends and family of the victims unless they are paid NZ$1900 (US$1,150) in Bitcoin.

Police stated that the crypto blackmailers also claim to know victims’ passwords. In some cases, the scammers disclose passwords that victims have used in the past, which they have obtained through leaked online data hacks on the dark web through compromised credentials. 

Police have advised residents who have received such ‘sextortion’ emails demanding a Bitcoin ransom to simply delete them. McNeill urged residents to regularly change passwords as frequent as possible, and it is especially vital to change the password if it has been listed by a fraudster in an email.

McNeil said: “We ask anyone who believes they are a victim of this scam and has transferred money to contact police by phoning 105.” 

Beware of Crypto Scams

Cybercriminals continue to affect the crypto market adversely. Crypto scammers disguise themselves as trustworthy companies or third parties to trick victims into giving away sensitive information, which could be used to gain access to their accounts and devices to steal their money. It is vital for general consumers to be very cautious and practice good habits to avoid falling victim to such scams. As Bitcoin becomes more popular and attracts mainstream users, fraudsters are preying on new and resorting to tricks like imitation websites and phishing emails to steal consumers’ funds.

Image via Shutterstock

Bitcoin and Anonymous Tokens Used in Illicit Child Porn Activities—Crackdown by Spanish Authorities

According to a recent report by Guardia Civil, Spanish authorities arrested several individuals involved in illicit crypto-driven child porn activities.  

Within the Kiru criminal operation ring, a man was detained for abusing his stepdaughter and using her to generate content for an illegal child porn website. Digital payouts were then made to an offshore account.  

After further investigation of the pornographic images, the Civil Guard identified a man residing in Madrid as being the author of the illicit activity. The abuse had been ongoing for 7 years before the illicit activity was discovered. 

Crackdown: Investigators Locate Cybercriminal 

After a more thorough search, investigators were able to find where he lived, and an arrest was made immediately. 

It was reported that the illegal sexual pimping had been ongoing for years and dated back to 2013. The stepfather of the victim was said to have undergone his filming every time he visited his stepdaughter. The victim of sexual abuse was located in Bolivia. 

In the Jekyll operation, payments in cryptocurrencies were used to access child pornography. A crackdown was made by US authorities, following the production of the pornographic video. This illicit dark content was conducted by South Korean Jong-Woo Son. The operator leaked a child porn video dubbed “Welcome To Video,” that later on went viral on the dark web. 

Jekyll Operation “Plays Jekyll and Hyde” with Homeland Security Investigations  

The Jekyll operation was also carried out in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations and was directed against several users of a platform located in the TOR network. It offered its users access to child pornography in exchange for a payment in Bitcoin. 

The analysis of thousands of cryptocurrency transactions allowed to identify a cluster of addresses associated with the investigated platform, called “Welcome 2 Video”. Depending on the amount paid, users were able to gain access to a larger number of illegal files. Users received benefits for uploading videos and photos that were not previously present on the platform. 

Dark Web Sucks in Bitcoin Payments From Viewers Paying to See Livestream Murder

Two 17-year-old Italians have been detained under the Delirium operation for instigating child pornography and live torture viewings on the dark web. 

One of the teens uncovered encrypted websites that would enable his counterpart and him to witness live torture of children as well as sexual abuse of the minors. The two Italians paid Bitcoin (BTC) to a dark site address in order to unlock explicit footage of children being sexually abused. Some were reported to be tortured to the point of dying. All this happened on live stream. 

The deep-web website also had a feature linked to it that incited viewers to pay extra cryptocurrency in exchange for deciding what kind of torture and what level of it would be carried out next on the minors. 

Operation Delirium Taskforce 

Delirium, an operation launched in Siena, Italy, with the help of the Prosecutor’s Office of Florence, is an organization that was founded with the objective of instigating and eradicating child pornography and trafficking rings. Launched last October, operation “Delirium” has recorded 25 suspects (19 minors and 6 adults) residing in 13 Italian provinces, and that are being investigated for instigating crime against minors through their part in disseminating and detaining child pornography. Local Italian law enforcement officials explained: 

“Users that were able to reach those kinds of obscure environments are allowed to take part in acts of sexual violence and torture on minors, performed live by adults.” 

Crypto for Sex 

Child pornography rings and sexual abuse of minors is a more common crime than one might think, and with cryptocurrency payments on the rise, many cybercriminals have resorted to these means in order to gain crypto funds. Investigators all around the globe are actively working to crack down and eradicate illegal child porn websites. 

Earlier this month, Spanish authorities have also arrested several individuals that were tampering with illicit crypto-driven child porn activities. Several users of a platform located in the TOR network were offering its users access to child pornography in exchange for Bitcoin payouts. 

Putting an End to Illicit Child Abuse 

While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether can be untraceable to more than one random wallet address, users sometimes make the initial purchase for crypto tokens using fiat money and credit card, and an alarming amount of crypto transactions are directed towards Child Sexual Abuse Material purchases. This enables law enforcement to track and catch up with them. Is it effective? Authorities are still working on more innovative and efficient methods to crack down on pedophiles and child sex traffickers. 

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