Cyber Crime
Three Russians Charged for Running Cryptocurrency Mixers Linked to Ransomware Money Laundering

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Friday criminal charges against three Russian nationals accused of managing cryptocurrency mixing services used to facilitate money laundering, including by ransomware operators.
Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmission business.
According to the DoJ, Oleynik and Ostapenko were apprehended on December 1, 2024, at an undisclosed location, while Tarasov remains at large.
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The three individuals are alleged to have operated Blender.io and Sinbad.io, cryptocurrency mixing platforms that enabled the laundering of illicit proceeds from criminal activities such as ransomware attacks, wire fraud, and cryptocurrency theft.
Authorities revealed that Blender.io was active from 2018 until 2022, marketed as a service designed to ensure anonymous cryptocurrency transactions. Following its shutdown, Sinbad.io emerged and operated until November 2023, when it was dismantled through a law enforcement operation.
Both platforms were sanctioned by U.S. authorities, who highlighted their use by North Korean hackers to launder stolen funds.
If convicted, Oleynik, Ostapenko, and Tarasov face up to 20 years in prison for money laundering charges and an additional five years for operating an unlicensed money transmission business.