In the first half of the year, hackers extorted $590 million, and the U.S. government set up a new network digital envoy

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The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that US Secretary of State Tony Blinken announced in an email to State Department staff on Monday that the Biden administration will establish a new Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau at the State Department as a new skill to strengthen diplomats' cyber expertise.

Just on October 25, local time, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the bureau would focus on three key areas: The first would focus on international cybersecurity issues, such as policymaking, deterrence, and negotiations with allies and adversaries. The second will focus on digital policies, such as supporting the development of secure telecommunications infrastructure abroad. A third sector will focus on global digital freedoms, such as defending human rights online.

Price added that the department also plans to appoint a technical envoy. Sources revealed that the department will not be clearly defined, and the appointed envoy will also report directly to Deputy Secretary of State Sherman for a one-year term, whose main function is to speed up the approval process of the US Congress.

It is reported that Secretary of State Blinken is expected to announce the details on Wednesday 27th local time.

Cyber regulation has been ongoing since the U.S. president took office in January. U.S. media said the main reason was that the Russian group that hacked SolarWinds was still attacking U.S. computer networks, and a May ransomware attack on pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline temporarily disrupted fuel supplies on the East Coast, which the company eventually paid $4.4 million in cryptocurrency as a cutoff.

According to the U.S. government, payments for ransomware attacks worldwide will exceed $400 million (£450 million) in 2020. This month, the U.S. Treasury Department said it paid $590 million for alleged ransomware in the first half of 2021.

In January, Biden appointed NSA senior official Anne Newberg to the role of deputy national security adviser on networks and emerging technologies, and her former colleague Chris Inglis in a new role as head of state networks.

At the same time, the Biden administration has also set up a ransomware working group and a cryptocurrency enforcement team.

Along with the United States, the United Kingdom was announced. The director of the UK's intelligence service, Sir Jeremy Fleming, announced this week that the UK plans to use its newly formed national cyber force to launch an offensive against hackers. Fleming explains: "The reason [ransomware] has proliferated is because it works... Let the criminals make a lot of money from it. ”

Japan also set up a digital hall in September, as a united front force, which selects highly specialized civilian talents, and the digital minister reports directly to the prime minister. According to the chain, the main project of the current digital hall is to build a "government cloud" system. While digital office is a major goal, the introduction of Japan's fragile cybersecurity regulatory policies also counts on the agency's major work progress.

It has previously been reported that the U.S. used a similar strategy to hack into the servers of the REvil network gang, which was the culprit in this year's massive attack on software company Kaseya.

In addition to real cyber extortion, the recent listing of Bitcoin ETFs has also made digital policy more challenging.

<h2>Cryptocurrency bullish sentiment</h2>

The U.S. Dow Jones index soared on Monday, with a new high for a Bitcoin ETF listed on October 19, and U.S. investors expected a positive outlook on Bitcoin. For specific analysis, please refer to the previous article of The Chain Dede: [Chain Dede Exclusive] Release is history! In-depth analysis of how this bitcoin futures ETF set off an investment frenzy?

According to the market testing data of The Chain, Bitcoin has now risen from less than 48,000 at the beginning of this month to more than $60,000 and has been on the rise. Big investment institutions are even more optimistic that cryptocurrencies are beginning to seize the gold market as the best choice to hedge inflation.

The rise of cryptocurrencies is supported by mainstream forces, and the illegal use of cryptocurrencies and the illegal use of technology remain a thorny global issue. (This article was originally published in ChainDede, authorized by Titanium Media App, author: Maori Goro)