• Press Releases
    • Submit a press release
    • Read All
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
Crypto.com Logo Crypto.com Logo
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Btcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Btcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
crypto
Nexo

A First For Crypto, U.S. Treasury Sanctions Mixer Blender IO

Reynaldo Marquez by Reynaldo Marquez
3 weeks ago
in Crypto News
0

Flagged as a “significant threat” to the United States national security, Bitcoin mixer Blender.io has become the first crypto entity to be sanctioned by the Treasury Department. According to a press release, the platform has “failed” to implement Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism policies.

Related Reading | BitMEX Founders Ordered By US Court To Pay $30 Million Fine For Illegal Crypto Trading

5 BTC + 300 Free Spins for new players & 15 BTC + 35.000 Free Spins every month, only at mBitcasino. Play Now!

As a result, the Treasury claims, the mixer has been leveraged by state-sponsored bad actors to launder funds from illegal activities. The government agency claims North Korea-backed Lazarus Group used Blender.io as part of an attack on Axie Infinity’s Ronin Bridge.

As reported by Bitconist, this attack was one of the largest in the crypto industry. Attackers managed to compromise the nodes that supported the Bridge and exploit them to extract over $600 million.

$20.5 million of the stolen funds were sent to Blender.io, per the release. The U.S. Treasury claims North Korea has been using cybercrimes to avoid “robust” sanctions imposed by the United Nations and other countries. The funds are allegedly used to fund the country’s weapons of mass destruction program.

BitStarz Player Lands $2,459,124 Record Win! Could you be next big winner?
Get 110 USDT Futures Bonus for FREE!

Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said the following on the sanctions to the mixer:

Virtual currency mixers that assist illicit transactions pose a threat to U.S. national security interests. We are taking action against illicit financial activity by the DPRK and will not allow state-sponsored thievery and its money-laundering enablers to go unanswered.

The Bitcoin mixer has been “designated pursuant” to Executive Order 13694. Thus, the Treasury claims it has “assisted, sponsored” or supported in any form an entity that can pose a “threat” to the U.S. national security, foreign policy, or its financial stability.

In addition, the Treasury reminds crypto entities of their alleged responsibility to prevent any sanctioned individual, company, or country from circumventing them and “undermining U.S. foreign policy and national security interest”.

U.S. Treasury After More Crypto Entities Linked To Malicious Actors

The U.S. Treasury revealed that it is working to identify other potential crypto wallet addresses linked to the Axie Infinity hacked and the Lazarus Group. This organization was sanctioned back on September 13, 2019, and classified as an entity under the control of North Korea.

The government agency has blocked Blender.io from any property or interest in the United States. In addition, the government agency said:

All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt.

Blender, the Treasury acknowledged, is a service used by people looking to increase their on-chain privacy when transacting in Bitcoin. However, the agency claims it is “commonly used by illicit actors”.

The Treasury claims that Blender.io has been used to launder money from other state-backed bad actors, such as Trickbot, Conti, Ryuk, Sodinokibi, Gandcrab, and others.

Related Reading | Crypto Scammers Using Deepfakes To Trap Victims: NortonLifeLock

At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $36,000 with a 3% loss in the last 24-hours.

Bitcoin BTC BTCUSD
BTC moving sideways on the 4-hour chart. Source: BTCUSD Tradingview
ShareTweetShareShare

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.
Reynaldo Marquez

Reynaldo Marquez

Related Posts

Is Russia Going To Legalize Crypto As A Form Of Payment? Court Sets Precedent In New Verdict

Is Russia Going To Legalize Crypto As A Form Of Payment? Court Sets Precedent In New Verdict

9 hours ago
Thailand Readies Itself For Digital Economy, Removes Crypto Transfers From VAT Till End Of 2023

Thailand Readies Itself For Digital Economy, Removes Crypto Transfers From VAT Till End Of 2023

13 hours ago
Crypto Scheme

US Congress Investigates Cawthorn Over Alleged Involvement In Crypto Scheme

17 hours ago
Crypto

Crypto Billionaire Says He May Shell Out $1 Billion On The 2024 U.S. Election

17 hours ago
StepN

StepN Explodes In Popularity, Native Token GMT Soars To $860 Million Market Cap

1 day ago
Davos 2022: Billionaire Ray Dalio Calls The Blockchain Great; Says He Holds Bitcoin

Davos 2022: Billionaire Ray Dalio Calls The Blockchain Great; Says He Holds Bitcoin

1 day ago

Bitcoin news portal providing breaking news, guides, price analysis about decentralized digital money & blockchain technology.

Bitcoin

  • News
  • Price
  • Businesses
  • Acceptance
  • Technology
  • Investment
  • Regulation
  • Reviews

Altcoins

  • News
  • Price
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Litecoin
  • EOS
  • NAGA

Categories

  • Blockchain
  • Security
  • FinTech
  • Technology
  • Trending
  • Breaking News
  • Press Releases
  • How to

Pages

  • Contact us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertise
  • Crypto Prices from Nomics
© 2022 Bitcoinist.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Btcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN

© 2021 Bitcoinist. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.