Russian nationals charged with operating crypto mixers that masked cybercrime funds | CyberScoop<\/title> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Russian nationals charged with operating crypto mixers that masked cybercrime funds\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The DOJ said the men behind Blender.io and Sinbad.io \u201cmade it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups\u201d to profit off their crimes.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-10T22:09:24+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-10T22:09:25+00:00\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"mbracken\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg\">  <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/comments\/feed\/\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-includes\/css\/dist\/block-library\/style.min.css?m=1732206022g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/search\/elasticpress\/dist\/css\/related-posts-block-styles.min.css?m=1736472020g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/themes\/scoopnewsgroup\/dist\/css\/frontend.css?m=1732010462g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"typekit-css\" href=\"https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/itk2qbh.css?ver=ddc036fa194c40cf406f\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"https:\/\/api.w.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/\"><link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"JSON\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83103\"><link rel=\"EditURI\" type=\"application\/rsd+xml\" title=\"RSD\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/xmlrpc.php?rsd\">\n<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"WordPress 6.7.1\">\n<link rel=\"shortlink\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=83103\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (JSON)\" type=\"application\/json+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Frussians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges%2F\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (XML)\" type=\"text\/xml+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Frussians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges%2F&format=xml\">   <link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=32\" sizes=\"32x32\">\n<link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=192\" sizes=\"192x192\">\n<link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=180\">\n<meta name=\"msapplication-TileImage\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"post-template-default single single-post postid-83103 single-format-standard\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--event js-stickybar\">\n<div class=\"stickybar__details\" readability=\"5.12\">\n<div class=\"stickybar__info js-sticky-bar-content\" readability=\"32\">\n<p>Nominations can be submitted for the 2025 CyberScoop 50 awards!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <a class=\"stickybar__link button button-tertiary\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyberscoop50\/\">Click here!<\/a> <\/div>\n<p> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.153579676674\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"34.105263157895\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges\/\"> <span>Cybercrime<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The DOJ said the men behind Blender.io and Sinbad.io \u201cmade it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups\u201d to profit off their crimes. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/83103\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds.jpg?resize=640%2C414&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg 2153w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=300,194 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=768,497 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=1024,663 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=1536,994 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=2048,1325 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=600,388 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=260,168 260w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=521,337 521w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=1043,675 1043w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-2.jpg?resize=1303,843 1303w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1043px) 100vw, 1043px\"><figcaption> (Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"28.462656204592\"><body readability=\"58.524526979678\"><\/p>\n<p>Three Russian nationals were indicted this week for their roles in managing a pair of cryptocurrency mixing services, operations that were funded in part by money gained through ransomware attacks. <\/p>\n<p>The indictment from a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia alleges that Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, 55, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, 44, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, 32, were the men behind Blender.io and Sinbad.io, fee-based services that allowed users to send cryptocurrency to specific recipients while masking the source of the funds. <\/p>\n<p>The Department of Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/operators-cryptocurrency-mixers-charged-money-laundering\">said in a press release<\/a> announcing the indictments that Blender.io and Sinbad.io were favored by criminals attempting to distance themselves from the source of their \u201ccriminally derived funds.\u201d The DOJ said the Russian nationals used those services as \u201csafe havens\u201d for laundering ransomware proceeds, crypto thefts and other ill-gotten gains.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security,\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department\u2019s Criminal Division. \u201cThe indictment and arrests announced [Tuesday], which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants\u2019 criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Blender.io, which was operational from 2018 to 2022, touted its \u201cNo Logs Policy\u201d and the deletion of any traces of transactions in an advertisement posted on a well-trafficked internet forum. The ad assured potential users that \u201cthere are no personal details asked for\u201d and \u201cas far as blender.io goes they don\u2019t know who you are.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>When the site shut down, Sinbad.io popped up in its place a few months later, operating in the same manner until the FBI\u2019s Atlanta field office, Netherlands\u2019 Financial Intelligence and Investigative Service and Finland\u2019s National Bureau of Investigation took down the service in November 2023. The Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control previously sanctioned both Blender.io and Sinbad.io.<\/p>\n<p>Ostapenko faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, while Oleynik and Tarasov were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.<\/p>\n<p>Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy and five years for each count of unlicensed money transmitting business. Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested Dec. 1, 2024, while Tarasov is still at large.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"4.1638225255973\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"15\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Matt Bracken\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Matt Bracken<\/h4>\n<p> Matt Bracken is the managing editor of FedScoop and CyberScoop, overseeing coverage of federal government technology policy and cybersecurity. Before joining Scoop News Group in 2023, Matt was a senior editor at Morning Consult, leading data-driven coverage of tech, finance, health and energy. He previously worked in various editorial roles at The Baltimore Sun and the Arizona Daily Star. You can reach him at matt.bracken@scoopnewsgroup.com. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Geopolitics<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russians-crypto-mixers-doj-charges\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russian nationals charged with operating crypto mixers that masked cybercrime<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3454,282,338,669,707,270],"tags":[3455,286,341,671,709,276],"class_list":["post-6880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-crypto-mixer","category-cybercrime","category-department-of-justice-doj","category-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi","category-money-laundering","category-russia","tag-crypto-mixer","tag-cybercrime","tag-department-of-justice-doj","tag-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi","tag-money-laundering","tag-russia"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/crypto-mixer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">crypto mixer<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybercrime\/\" rel=\"category tag\">cybercrime<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/department-of-justice-doj\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/money-laundering\/\" rel=\"category tag\">money laundering<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/russia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Russia<\/a>","tag_info":"Russia","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6880"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6880\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":6880,"date":"2025-01-10T16:09:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T22:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=83103"},"modified":"2025-01-10T16:09:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T22:09:24","slug":"russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/01\/10\/russian-nationals-charged-with-operating-crypto-mixers-that-masked-cybercrime-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian nationals charged with operating crypto mixers that masked cybercrime funds"},"content":{"rendered":"