A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia has indicted three Russian nationals for their alleged involvement in operating crypto mixers Blender.io and Sinbad.io, tools used to launder funds associated with cybercrime activities such as ransomware attacks and virtual currency thefts.
The indictment, which was released on January 10, charges Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating unlicensed money-transmitting businesses. While Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024, Tarasov remains at large.
Authorities claim that Blender.io and Sinbad.io facilitated illicit transactions by disguising the origins of cryptocurrency obtained through criminal means. The platforms were allegedly heavily utilized by state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals, making it easier for them to profit from their illegal activities.
Blender.io, which was active from 2018 to 2022, promoted a “No Logs Policy” and did not require any personal information from its users. Sinbad.io, which was launched after Blender.io shut down, operated in a similar manner. The FBI, along with international partners, dismantled Sinbad.io in November 2023.
Both platforms were eventually sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for laundering funds for state-sponsored hacking groups, including North Korea’s.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy, as well as an additional five years for each count of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
This case underscores the importance of international cooperation, with law enforcement agencies from the Netherlands, Finland, and Australia all contributing to the investigation. The FBI is leading the charge, with support from the Justice Department’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.
It is crucial to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.