Summary
The U.S. government has charged two Russian nationals, Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, with cybercrime related to cryptocurrency laundering operations that supported illicit activities, including ransomware attacks and drug trafficking. This coordinated effort involved the seizure of illegal cryptocurrency exchange websites, including Cryptex, and aimed to disrupt transnational cybercrime networks.
In a significant crackdown, the U.S. Justice Department, alongside other federal agencies and international law enforcement, has targeted a network of cryptocurrency exchanges that allegedly facilitated money laundering for Russian cybercriminals. Ivanov, known for running multiple payment and exchange services, has been implicated in laundering substantial amounts of Bitcoin linked to criminal activities. On-chain analysis revealed that a significant portion of the Bitcoin transactions to these exchanges originated from addresses associated with illegal activities. The seizure of these platforms is expected to hinder their use in money laundering and reflects growing concerns over the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating crime.
Sep. 27 / Benzinga “ In a coordinated effort, the U.S. Justice Department, working with other arms of the state and international law enforcement agencies, seized websites of...
US sanctions cryptocurrency exchange network accused of aiding Russia
Sep. 26 / The Hill “ The U.S. government on Thursday charged two Russian nationals and sanctioned a virtual currency exchange in an effort to crack down on transnational...