The United States yesterday imposed financial sanctions on ‘cryptocurrency mixer’ Tornado Cash, accused of being used to launder more than $7 billion in virtual currency since 2019, including in connection with Korea North. “Treasury sanctions Tornado Cash, a virtual currency mixer that launders money from cyber crimes, including those committed against victims in the United States,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson in a statement.
“This includes more than $455 million stolen by the Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking group in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) that was sanctioned by the United States in 2019, as part of of the largest theft of virtual currency known to date”, specifies the Treasury. In mid-April, US authorities accused the Lazarus group and APT38, hackers “associated” with the reclusive regime, of being responsible for the theft of $ 620 million in ethereum, a cryptocurrency, which followed the hack of the video game Axie Infinity. end of March.
“Despite publicly asserting the contrary, Tornado Cash has repeatedly failed to impose effective controls designed to prevent it from laundering funds to malicious cyber actors and without basic measures to address its risks.” Brian Nelson. In May, Washington had, for the first time, imposed financial sanctions against a cryptocurrency mixer, Blender.io, also accused of involvement in the laundering of virtual money by North Korea.
The United States yesterday imposed financial sanctions on ‘cryptocurrency mixer’ Tornado Cash, accused of being used to launder more than $7 billion in virtual currency since 2019, including in connection with Korea North. “Treasury sanctions Tornado Cash, a virtual currency mixer that launders money…