New York, Friday, September 27, 2024-The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has seized the domains of three cryptocurrency exchanges linked to a Russian money laundering network, the DOJ said in a media statement.
The platforms, UAPS, PM2BTC, and Cryptex, are accused of facilitating over $800 million in illicit transactions. Authorities acted on court orders to seize the domains, with government notices now displayed on the sites.
On Sept. 26, the DOJ charged two Russian nationals, Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, in connection with a global money laundering scheme. Ivanov, also known as “Taleon,” allegedly ran exchanges that processed more than $1.15 billion in illegal digital transactions between July 2013 and August 2024. Cryptex, another implicated exchange, handled $1.4 billion, with nearly a third linked to criminal activity.
Authorities found that these exchanges were directly marketed to cybercriminals, offering anonymity by bypassing know-your-customer (KYC) regulations.
A DOJ statement noted the seizure of Cryptex.net and Cryptex.one, highlighting their role in enabling ransomware payments and darknet drug market transactions.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized international cooperation, stating, “Working with our Dutch partners, we shut down Cryptex and recovered millions in cryptocurrency.”
Shakhmametov is also linked to Joker’s Stash, a notorious carding site selling stolen payment card data. Both he and Ivanov face sanctions from the U.S. Treasury, while the State Department is offering an $11 million reward for information leading to their arrests.
