The US Justice Department indicted three Russian nationals for conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business due to their roles in the cryptocurrency mixers Blender.io and Sinbad.io. Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik were arrested in December 2024, while Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov remains at large. These mixers allegedly enabled criminals to launder funds obtained from ransomware and other cybercrimes, posing risks to public safety and national security. The US Treasury sanctioned Blender in May 2022, linking it to the North Korea-based Lazarus Group, while Sinbad is believed to be a rebrand of Blender. Authorities highlighted the dismantling of Sinbad.io and are pursuing accountability against its developers. If convicted, the three men could face over 25 years in prison for their charges. The article also notes ongoing enforcement actions against crypto mixers like Tornado Cash, signaling a growing regulatory scrutiny against unlicensed financial operations.

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