The US Department of Justice has indicted three Russian nationals for money laundering through cryptocurrency mixers Blender.io and Sinbad.io.
Money Laundering Allegations
American authorities announced that a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia has indicted Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyacheslavovich Tarasov. The indictment asserts that their cryptocurrency mixing services enabled criminals to launder funds obtained from cyberattacks and other crimes.
OFAC Sanctions and Lazarus Group's Role
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Blender.io in May 2022, claiming the North Korean Lazarus Group used it to launder funds after a heist involving the game Axie Infinity. Crypto analytics firm Elliptic suggested Blender may have rebranded to Sinbad in 2023, leading to OFAC's inclusion of it in the sanctioned list.
Response and Future Actions
US and global law enforcement continue their crackdown on cryptocurrency mixers. Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested in December 2024, while Tarasov remained at large. All three face charges that could lead to over 25 years in prison if convicted.
The allegations against Blender.io and Sinbad.io highlight the need for stringent measures against illicit operations in the crypto industry. Ensuring safety and transparency remains a priority in the regulation of digital assets.
