US Seizes Crypto Domains Tied to $2.5 Billion in Illicit Transactions – Decrypt

The U.S. Division of Justice mentioned Thursday it seized domains linked to a few crypto exchanges accused of facilitating greater than $2.5 billion in illicit transactions as a part of a coordinated crackdown on Russian cash laundering operations.The DOJ, working with the Treasury Division, Secret Service, and worldwide legislation enforcement companions, unsealed an indictment towards Russian nationwide Sergey Ivanov, in keeping with a press release.Ivanov, also called “Taleon,” is accused of working a number of cash laundering companies that catered to cybercriminals, together with ransomware teams and darknet drug traffickers.U.S. authorities additionally indicted Russian nationwide Timur Shakhmametov, or “JokerStash,” accusing him of operating Joker’s Stash, one of many largest carding web sites in historical past, which bought stolen cost card information.Ivanov allegedly operated crypto exchanges equivalent to UAPS, PinPays, and PM2BTC, which processed roughly $1.15 billion in digital asset transactions. Blockchain evaluation performed by the authorities revealed that 32% of Bitcoin dealt with by the exchanges have been tied to prison exercise, together with over $158 million in fraud and greater than $8.8 million from ransomware funds.Together with U.S. actions, Dutch authorities seized the servers internet hosting PM2BTC and Cryptex, recovering greater than $7 million in crypto, the Justice Division alleged.Cryptex, one other crypto trade tied to cash laundering, facilitated transactions price $1.4 billion, of which 31% have been linked to prison conduct, in keeping with the indictment.The U.S. Secret Service obtained courtroom authorization to grab the domains of UAPS, PM2BTC, and Cryptex. Guests to the websites now see a authorities discover indicating the seizures.“In the present day's actions spotlight the Division’s continued disruption of malicious cyber actors and their prison ecosystem,” Deputy Lawyer Normal Lisa Monaco mentioned within the assertion. “The 2 Russian nationals charged right this moment allegedly pocketed tens of millions of {dollars} from prolific cash laundering.”Ivanov is charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit and aiding and abetting financial institution fraud for offering cost processing companies to the carding web site Rescator. He is additionally charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit cash laundering for dealing with proceeds from Joker’s Stash.The U.S. Treasury additionally sanctioned Ivanov and Cryptex, whereas the State Division provided rewards of as much as $11 million for info resulting in the arrest of these concerned.Each day Debrief NewsletterStart day-after-day with the highest information tales proper now, plus unique options, a podcast, movies and extra.