US seizes $2.8M crypto from ransomware group

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued an executive order to seize over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, cash and other assets from an alleged ransomware operator, as announced on August 14.

Justice Department Announces Seizure of Over $2.8 Million in Cryptocurrency, Cash, and other Assets

The Department of Justice unsealed six warrants yesterday in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Central District of California, and the Northern District of Texas authorizing the seizure of over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, $70,000 in cash, and a luxury vehicle.

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Six search warrants related to the arrest warrant for Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko have been desecreted. The suspect is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, computer fraud and abuse, and conspiracy to launder money.

The authorities also seized $70,000 in cash and a luxury car. The cryptocurrencies confiscated during the search warrant will be added to the US government's expanding cryptocurrency reserve.

According to the Justice Department, the assets are allegedly linked to ransomware funds and the proceeds were laundered through services such as the ChipMixer mixer, seized in 2023 in an international police operation.

Antropenko also allegedly converted cryptocurrencies to cash and made structured deposits to avoid detection.

A new contribution to the federal reserve

This is the latest in a series of government announcements regarding cryptocurrencies that could be added to the US national cryptocurrency reserve.

The reserve was established by an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump last March.

On Monday, the Justice Department said it had seized about $1 million from the ransomware group BlackSuit and filed a motion to forfeit an additional $2.4 million in Bitcoin (BTC) seized by the FBI last April in Dallas.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced that the government's Bitcoin stockpile, from crime-related seizures and after reimbursement of victims, is worth about $20 billion.

On the same day, Bessent drew attention by declaring that the US would not buy any more Bitcoins for the reserve. Later, he retracted, pointing out that the Treasury will look for ways to expand the reserves in a 'budget-neutral' manner.