U.S. and German law enforcement have taken down the domain of Cryptonator, a cryptocurrency wallet platform allegedly used by ransomware groups, darknet marketplaces, and other illegal services. The platform’s operator, Roman Boss, has been indicted on charges of money laundering and running an unlicensed money service business.
Cryptonator, established in 2014, allows users to store and exchange various cryptocurrencies within their personal wallets. However, according to blockchain investigation firm TRM, Cryptonator did not implement necessary anti-money laundering controls, enabling anonymous or pseudonymous users to conduct illicit activities.
The primary domain “cryptonator.com” now displays a seizure notice. The operation involved the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the IRS:CI, the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and the Attorney General’s Office in Frankfurt am Main.
Between 2014 and 2023, Cryptonator wallet addresses reportedly engaged in significant transactions, including:
– $25 million with darknet markets and fraud shops
– $34.5 million with scam addresses
– $80 million with high-risk exchanges
– $8 million with ransomware-associated addresses
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents
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