Biden announced that the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury and the US Secret Service are acting in coordination with international partners to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network in an operation carried out today. This initiative aims to thwart Russia’s efforts to violate international sanctions.

In this context, US authorities targeted two Russian citizens, Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, on charges of money laundering and violating sanctions using cryptocurrency. Both men are accused of providing illegal money laundering services.

In this context, the US State Department announced a reward of 10 million dollars for those who provide information leading to the arrest of these people. This demonstrates the US government’s commitment to combating money laundering and financial crimes.

The operation was carried out within the framework of a “coordinated international effort” with the participation of the Netherlands, Latvia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Europol and many US agencies.

According to the information obtained, US authorities seized the websites of three illegal cryptocurrency exchanges linked to Russia. These exchanges include platforms such as Cryptex.net, UAPS, PinPays and PM2BTC. Biden emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating such illegal activities.

Ivanov faces allegations that he processed more than $1.15 billion in transactions over the past 11 years and provided payment processing support to the Rescator karting website. These actions include using stolen credit and debit card data for fraudulent purposes.

In addition, similar accusations are being made against Ivanov on another karting website called Joker’s Stash. Shakhmametov, known under the pseudonyms “JokerStash” and “Vega”, is being tried on the same charges. Joker’s Stash, in particular, stands out as a platform that offers 40 million payment card data for sale annually.

Assistant US Attorney Lisa Monaco stated that these two Russian citizens disposed of millions of dollars by supporting the activities of cybercriminals around the world.

Allegations that Ivanov aided drug traffickers and ransomware operators on the darknet reinforce the US government’s determination to fight cybercrime. “These two individuals were part of a large-scale money laundering operation and created a global network assisting cybercriminals,” Monaco said.

The operation carried out by the Secret Service also led to the seizure of two web domains supporting the Cryptex.net platform. A total of 37,500 transactions were carried out on this platform, reaching a transaction volume of 1.4 billion dollars.

Such illegal activities are considered to threaten both national security and the integrity of the financial system.

The Biden administration emphasizes that the fight against such illegal activities will continue and international cooperation should be strengthened. These statements show the United States’ determination not only to protect its internal security, but also to combat cybercrime at the international level.

Additionally, Biden’s statement also criticizes Russia’s behavior under sanctions and aims to reduce the effects of such illegal activities around the world.

These moves by the USA are a warning not only against Russia, but also against cybercriminals on a global scale. These developments in the cryptocurrency world underline the need to increase the measures to prevent cyber crimes.

The Biden administration will continue to take decisive steps to ensure the security of the financial system. Such operations may be just the beginning of the fight against financial crime and will require greater cooperation at the international level.