Telegram Shuts Down 'Largest Illicit Online Marketplace' After Elliptic's Insights

By: cryptonews|2025/05/15 18:00:16

Telegram has shut down the illicit marketplace Haowang Guarantee, formerly Huione Guarantee, which has facilitated transactions totaling over $27 billion in stablecoins since 2021. Haowang was shut down based on insights provided by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic on Tuesday. The closure took place amidst a crackdown on thousands of suspected Chinese crypto-crime channels operating on Telegram, following Elliptic's report into marketplace Xinbi Guarantee. Telegram has now shut down both Huione and Xinbi, which processed a combined $35 billion of illicit transactions in stablecoins, Elliptic wrote in a web post on Wednesday. "Our analysis indicates that Huione Guarantee has facilitated transactions totalling more than $27 billion since launching in 2021, making it the largest illicit online marketplace to have ever operated," Elliptic wrote. Xinbi was the second largest, having processed transactions worth $8.4 billion since 2022, Elliptic added. For perspective, notable "dark web" marketplaces such as the Silk Road and Alphabay processed $216 million and $639 million respectively. Such marketplaces historically operated through anonymous browser Tor, but have more recently shifted their operations to Telegram, the messaging app with over a billion users. Huione and Xinbi are referred to as "guarantee" marketplaces, a term designated for platforms that do not sell goods and services themselves, but provide a venue for merchants to sell to customers. Read More: 1 in 5 Cross-Chain Crypto Investigations Involve More Than 10 Blockchains, Elliptic Finds

On March 4, 2026, DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE American: DDC) today announced preliminary, unaudited full-year financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025. The company expects to achieve record revenue and record positive adjusted EBITDA, primarily driven by continued growth in its core consumer food business and overall margin improvement. The final audited financial report is expected to be released in mid-April 2026.

2025 Full-Year Financial Highlights

Revenue: Expected to be between $39 million and $41 million, reaching a new company high.

Organic Growth: Excluding the impact of the company's strategic contraction of its U.S. operations, core revenue is expected to grow 11% to 17% year over year.

Gross Profit Margin: Expected to be between 28% and 30%, reflecting continued operational efficiency improvements.

Adjusted EBITDA: The company expects to achieve a positive full-year result in 2025, a significant improvement from a $3.5 million loss in 2024, mainly due to rigorous cost controls and a higher-margin sales mix.

Core Consumer Food Business Performance

In 2025, DDC's core consumer food business maintained strong operational performance.

The company also disclosed Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA, a metric that further excludes costs related to its Bitcoin reserve strategy and non-cash fair value adjustments related to its Bitcoin holdings from adjusted EBITDA to more accurately reflect the core business performance.

In 2025, Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $5.5 million and $6 million.

Bitcoin Reserve Update

In the first half of 2025, DDC initiated a long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy, holding Bitcoin as its primary reserve asset.

As of December 31, 2025: The company holds 1,183 BTC.

As of February 28, 2026: Holdings increased to 2,118 BTC

Today's additional purchase of 65 BTC brings the company's total holdings to 2,183 BTC

DDC Founder, Chairman, and CEO Norma Chu stated, "We are proud to have closed 2025 with record revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating the steady growth of the company's consumer food business and the ongoing improvement in profitability. We are building a disciplined, growth-oriented food platform and strategically allocating capital to Bitcoin assets with a long-term view, aligning with our core beliefs. We believe that this dual-track model of 'Steady Consumer Business + Strategic Bitcoin Reserve' will help DDC create lasting long-term value for shareholders."

Adjusted EBITDA Definition
For the full year 2025, the company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" (a non-GAAP financial measure) as: Net income / (loss) excluding the following items:· Interest expense· Taxes· Foreign exchange gains/losses· Long-lived asset impairment· Depreciation and amortization· Non-cash fair value changes related to financial instruments (including Bitcoin holdings)· Stock-based compensation

About DDC Enterprise Limited

DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE: DDC) is actively implementing its corporate Bitcoin Treasury strategy while continuing to strengthen its position as a leading global Asian food platform.

The company has established Bitcoin as a core reserve asset and is executing a prudent, long-oriented accumulation strategy. While expanding its portfolio of food brands, DDC is gradually becoming one of the public company pioneers in integrating Bitcoin into its corporate financial architecture.

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DDC Enterprise Limited Announces 2025 Unaudited Preliminary Financial Performance: Record Revenue Achieved, Bitcoin Treasury Grows to 2183 Coins