The post Russian Trio Busted for Crypto Laundering with Blender.io & Sinbad.io appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Three Russian citizens have been charged in federal court for running Blender.io and Sinbad.io, two crypto tumblers that allegedly helped criminals launder money. These platforms, which hide the sources of cryptocurrency transactions, were reportedly used by hackers to clean funds obtained through ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency thefts, and other illegal activities. But the story doesn’t end there—these crypto mixers are reportedly tied to a much bigger issue involving global cybersecurity and even North Korean-backed hackers. What’s the real scale of these operations? Let’s dive deeper into the details. The Accused and Their Operations The two arrested defendants, Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko (55) and Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik (44), were taken into custody on December 1, 2024. A third defendant, Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov (32), is still on the run. Blender.io operated from 2018 to 2022, marketing itself as a platform that protects user anonymity by not storing transaction or user data. After Blender.io was shut down, Sinbad.io emerged, providing the same Bitcoin-mixing services to users. How the Platforms Played a Part Both platforms allowed users to mask their identities for a fee, making them attractive to cybercriminals worldwide. Investigators claim that these services were used to launder money from illegal activities like ransomware and cryptocurrency theft. Sinbad.io was shut down in November 2023 in a joint operation by Dutch police, the FBI, and Finnish authorities. It had become a hotspot for illicit financial transactions. .article-inside-link { margin-left: 0 !important; border: 1px solid #0052CC4D; border-left: 0; border-right: 0; padding: 10px 0; text-align: left; } .entry ul.article-inside-link li { font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; font-weight: 600; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0; display: inline-block; } .entry ul.article-inside-link li:last-child { display: none; } Also Read : K-pop’s Cube Entertainment CEO Accused of Misleading Investors in Crypto Scam , Ties to North Korea Explored Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been linked to North Korean-backed cyber actors by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Blender.io was involved in laundering stolen funds and providing support to North Korea’s Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Similarly, Sinbad.io had ties to DPRK-linked hackers and other cybercrimes. Services like Blender.io and Sinbad.io remain a significant concern for cybersecurity experts because they make it easier for criminals to hide their transactions, making it more difficult to track illegal activities. Time for the Crackdown! The defendants face serious charges, including conspiracy to engage in money laundering and running an unlicensed money-transmitting business. If convicted, Ostapenko and Oleynik could face up to 20 years for money laundering and an additional five years for each unlicensed operation. They will stand trial, with sentencing determined by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Meanwhile, authorities continue their efforts to capture Tarasov and dismantle these illegal operations worldwide. .article_register_shortcode { padding: 18px 24px; border-radius: 8px; display: flex; align-items: center; margin: 6px 0 22px; border: 1px solid #0052CC4D; background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0%, rgba(0, 82, 204, 0.1) 100%); } .article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 { color: #000000; font-weight: 600; font-size: 20px; line-height: 22px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 span { color: #0052CC; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body p { font-weight: 400; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; color: #171717B2; margin-top: 4px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body{ padding-right: 14px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-button a { float: right; } .article_register_shortcode .primary-button img{ vertical-align: middle; } @media (min-width: 581px) and (max-width: 991px) { .article_register_shortcode .media-body p { margin-bottom: 0; } } @media (max-width: 580px) { .article_register_shortcode { display: block; padding: 20px; } .article_register_shortcode img { max-width: 50px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 { font-size: 16px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body { margin-left: 0px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body p { font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 14px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-button a { float: unset; } .article_register_shortcode .secondary-button { margin-bottom: 0; } } Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World! Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more. .subscription-options li { display: none; } .research-report-subscribe{ background-color: #0052CC; padding: 12px 20px; border-radius: 8px; color: #fff; font-weight: 500; font-size: 14px; width: 96%; } .research-report-subscribe img{ vertical-align: sub; margin-right: 2px; } Subscribe to News var templateIds = "6"; var listOfSubscribed = []; function subscribed_popupmodal(template_id) { var subcribemodal = window.parent.document.getElementById('subscribe-modal-design'); if (subcribemodal) { var modalContent = ` Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World! Stay informed and gain the edge you need to navigate the crypto world. Select your subscription now Daily Get real-time crypto news, market insights, and blockchain updates. Weekly Stay updated with major trends, funding news, and price analysis. Monthly Receive a detailed report with market analysis and expert predictions. Subscribe Now `; subcribemodal.innerHTML = modalContent; } subscribe_unsubscribe_status(template_id); //getAllSubscriberCategoryList(template_id); } function toggleSubscription(subscription, template_id) { var subscriptionCheckbox = document.getElementById(subscription + '_' + template_id); var li = document.getElementById(subscription + 'Selected_' + template_id); if (subscriptionCheckbox.checked) { li.classList.add('active'); } else { li.classList.remove('active'); } } function getAllSubscriberCategoryList(getcategoryId) { jQuery.ajax({ url: 'https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', type: 'GET', data: { action: 'subscribe_api_ajax_request', apiurl: '/app/email_newsletter/list', }, success: function(response) { var result = JSON.parse(response.message); if (result.status === true) { var idstosubscribed = [] // Populate listOfSubscribed with subscribed category IDs result.message.forEach(listofcategory => { if (listofcategory.subscribe_status === 1) { if (!listOfSubscribed.includes(listofcategory._id)) { listOfSubscribed.push(listofcategory._id); } if (!idstosubscribed.includes(listofcategory.news_cp_category_row_id)) { idstosubscribed.push(listofcategory.news_cp_category_row_id); } } }); idstosubscribed.forEach(id => { var subscribeButton = document.getElementById('subscribe_' + id); var unsubscribeButton = document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + id); if (subscribeButton && unsubscribeButton) { subscribeButton.style.display = 'none'; unsubscribeButton.style.display = 'block'; var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById('download_report'); if (showDownloadReport) { showDownloadReport.style.display = 'block'; } } }); } }, error: function(xhr, status, error) { console.error('Error:', error); } }); } function subscribe_unsubscribe_status(getcategoryId) { var elementTounsubscribe = parent.document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + getcategoryId); var elementTosubscribe = parent.document.getElementById('subscribe_' + getcategoryId); jQuery.ajax({ url: 'https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', type: 'POST', data: { action: 'subscribe_api_ajax_request', apiurl: '/app/email_newsletter/list?category_row_id=' + getcategoryId, }, success: function(response) { var result = JSON.parse(response.message); if (result.status === true) { parent.jQuery('.skeliton-loader-block').hide(); var hasSubscribeStatusOne = false; result.message.forEach(subscribeStatus => { if (listOfSubscribed.includes(subscribeStatus._id) && subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { hasSubscribeStatusOne = true; } if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 3) { parent.document.getElementById('monthlySelected_' + getcategoryId).style.display = 'block'; parent.document.getElementById('monthly_' + getcategoryId).setAttribute('data-id', subscribeStatus._id); if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('monthly_' + getcategoryId).checked = true; } } else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 2) { parent.document.getElementById('weeklySelected_' + getcategoryId).style.display = 'block'; parent.document.getElementById('weekly_' + getcategoryId).setAttribute('data-id', subscribeStatus._id); if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('weekly_' + getcategoryId).checked = true; } } else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('dailySelected_' + getcategoryId).style.display = 'block'; parent.document.getElementById('daily_' + getcategoryId).setAttribute('data-id', subscribeStatus._id); if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('daily_' + getcategoryId).checked = true; } } if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { listOfSubscribed.push(subscribeStatus._id); } }); if (hasSubscribeStatusOne) { elementTosubscribe.style.display = 'none'; elementTounsubscribe.style.display = 'block'; } else { elementTosubscribe.style.display = 'block'; elementTounsubscribe.style.display = 'none'; } } }, error: function(xhr, status, error) { console.error('Error:', error); } }); } function logSelectedSubscriptions(categoryid) { var unsubscribemodal = document.querySelector('.unsubscribed-popup-modal .modal'); var subscribedmodal = document.querySelector('.subscribed-popup-modal .modal'); unsubscribemodal.innerHTML=''; subscribedmodal.innerHTML=''; var selectedSubscriptions = []; var storeCheckedId = []; var checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll('#subscription-options-' + categoryid + ' input[type="checkbox"]'); var errorMessage = document.getElementById('error-message-select'); // Use a Set to handle unique data-ids var uniqueSubscribedIds = new Set(listOfSubscribed); checkboxes.forEach(function(checkbox) { var dataId = parseInt(checkbox.getAttribute('data-id')); if (checkbox.checked) { selectedSubscriptions.push(checkbox.id); storeCheckedId.push(dataId); } else { uniqueSubscribedIds.delete(dataId); // Remove unchecked data-id } }); // Update listOfSubscribed with unique values listOfSubscribed = Array.from(uniqueSubscribedIds); var selectedSubscriptionsString = selectedSubscriptions.join(', '); var concatinateSubscribeId = [...new Set(storeCheckedId.concat(listOfSubscribed))]; var categoryData = { 'subscribed_categories': concatinateSubscribeId }; var requestSubscriberData = { action: 'handle_dynamic_api_request_with_headers', security: '3232408c0b', endpoint: '/app/email_newsletter/update_categories', token: '', data: categoryData }; jQuery.ajax({ url: 'https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', type: 'POST', data: requestSubscriberData, beforeSend: function(xhr) { xhr.setRequestHeader('X-Requested-With', 'XMLHttpRequest'); }, success: function(response) { try { response = response.data; if (storeCheckedId.length === 0) { var unsubcribedPopUpmodal = ` You’ve Unsubscribed Successfully We're sorry to see you go! Your subscription has been canceled. If you change your mind, you can re-subscribe anytime. Thank you for being part of our community! `; unsubscribemodal.innerHTML = unsubcribedPopUpmodal; document.querySelector('#subscribe-modal-design .modal').style.display = 'none'; unsubscribemodal.style.display = 'block'; unsubscribemodal.classList.remove('hide'); unsubscribemodal.classList.add('show'); document.getElementById('subscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'block'; document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'none'; var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById('download_report'); if (showDownloadReport) { showDownloadReport.style.display = 'none'; } } else { var subscribedPopupModal = ` Thank you for subscribing! Thank you for subscribing to our crypto and blockchain newsletter! You’ll now receive the latest news, insights, and updates straight to your inbox. Welcome to our community! `; let selectedSubscriptionsArray = selectedSubscriptionsString.split(','); let subscribedCategories = selectedSubscriptionsArray.map(subscription => subscription.split('_')[0]); let subscribedCategoriesString = subscribedCategories.join(', '); subscribedmodal.innerHTML = subscribedPopupModal; if (document.getElementById('selectidname')) { document.getElementById('selectidname').textContent = subscribedCategoriesString; } document.querySelector('#subscribe-modal-design .modal').style.display = 'none'; subscribedmodal.style.display = 'block'; subscribedmodal.classList.remove('hide'); subscribedmodal.classList.add('show'); document.getElementById('subscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'none'; document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'block'; var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById('download_report'); if (showDownloadReport) { showDownloadReport.style.display = 'block'; } } } catch (e) { console.error('Error parsing response:', e); } }, }); } function closeModal(template_id) { var modalId = template_id; var modal = document.querySelector('#' + modalId); // Using querySelector to find the modal if (modal) { modal.classList.add('hide'); modal.classList.remove('show'); setTimeout(function() { modal.style.display = 'none'; }, 500); } else { console.warn('Modal not found:', modalId); } } function closeunsubscribemodal() { var unsubscribemodal = document.querySelector('.unsubscribed-popup-modal .modal'); if (unsubscribemodal) { unsubscribemodal.classList.add('hide'); unsubscribemodal.classList.remove('show'); } setTimeout(function() { unsubscribemodal.style.display = 'none'; }, 500); } function closesubscribemodal() { var subscribedmodal = document.querySelector('.subscribed-popup-modal .modal'); setTimeout(function() { subscribedmodal.style.display = 'none'; }, 500); if (subscribedmodal) { subscribedmodal.classList.add('hide'); subscribedmodal.classList.remove('show'); } } function withoutLoginClicked(withoutlogin_id) { localStorage.setItem('subscribe_without_Login', 'true'); localStorage.setItem('subscribe_clicked_id', withoutlogin_id); } document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { var templateId = '6'; getAllSubscriberCategoryList([templateId]); jQuery.ajax({ url: 'https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', type: 'GET', data: { action: 'subscribe_api_ajax_request', apiurl: '/app/email_newsletter/list', }, success: function(response) { var resultonload = JSON.parse(response.message); var storeallcategory = resultonload.message; if (Array.isArray(storeallcategory)) { // Collect all `news_cp_category_row_id` values and remove duplicates var allCategoryIds = storeallcategory.map(function(item) { return String(item.news_cp_category_row_id); // Convert IDs to strings }); var uniqueCategoryIds = Array.from(new Set(allCategoryIds)); // Get unique IDs // Convert templateId to a string for comparison var templateIdStr = String(templateId); // Check if the templateId is NOT found in the unique category IDs if (!uniqueCategoryIds.includes(templateIdStr)) { var idNotMatchTounsubscribe = document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + templateIdStr); var idNotMatchTosubscribe = document.getElementById('subscribe_' + templateIdStr); // Check if elements exist before applying display changes if (idNotMatchTounsubscribe) { idNotMatchTounsubscribe.style.display = "none"; } if (idNotMatchTosubscribe) { idNotMatchTosubscribe.style.display = "none"; } } } else { console.log("storeallcategory is not an array."); } }, error: function(xhr, status, error) { console.error("AJAX request failed:", status, error); } }); const subscribewithoutData = localStorage.getItem('subscribe_without_Login'); const subscribe_clicked_cat_id = localStorage.getItem('subscribe_clicked_id'); // Function to get cookies function getCookie(name) { let value = "; " + document.cookie; let parts = value.split("; " + name + "="); if (parts.length == 2) return parts.pop().split(";").shift(); } // Get user token from cookies const userToken = getCookie('user_token'); if (subscribewithoutData === 'true' && userToken) { // Call the modal function with the category ID subscribed_popupmodal(subscribe_clicked_cat_id); // Remove the flag and category ID from localStorage localStorage.removeItem('subscribe_without_Login'); localStorage.removeItem('subscribe_clicked_id'); } }); /************************** update susbcriber content **************************** */ function initializeSubscriptionButton() { var initialListItems = document.querySelectorAll('.subscription-options input[type="checkbox"]'); initialListItems.forEach(function(item) { console.log(item.checked, 'Initial Checkbox checked status'); }); var listItems = document.querySelectorAll('.subscription-options li'); if (listItems.length === 0) return; var anyActive = false; listItems.forEach(function(item) { var checkbox = item.querySelector('input[type="checkbox"]'); if (checkbox) { if (checkbox.checked) { item.classList.add('active'); anyActive = true; // Set anyActive to true } else { item.classList.remove('active'); // Remove 'active' class if checkbox is unchecked } } }); } function updateButtonText(anyActive) { var subscribeButtonSpan = document.querySelector('.subscribe-submit .changeBtnText'); if (subscribeButtonSpan) { if (anyActive) { subscribeButtonSpan.textContent = 'Subscribe Now'; } else { subscribeButtonSpan.textContent = 'Unsubscribe'; } } } function updateSubscriptionButton() { var listItems = document.querySelectorAll('.subscription-options li'); if (listItems.length === 0) return; var anyActive = false; listItems.forEach(function(item) { var checkbox = item.querySelector('input[type="checkbox"]'); if (checkbox) { if (checkbox.checked) { item.classList.add('active'); anyActive = true; // Set anyActive to true } else { item.classList.remove('active'); // Remove 'active' class if checkbox is unchecked } } }); // Update the button text based on whether any list item has the 'active' class updateButtonText(anyActive); } document.addEventListener('click', function(event) { var clickedItem = event.target.closest('.subscription-options li'); if (clickedItem) { var checkbox = clickedItem.querySelector('input[type="checkbox"]'); if (checkbox) { checkbox.checked = !checkbox.checked; updateSubscriptionButton(); } } }); With the crackdown on platforms like Blender.io and Sinbad.io, the world of cryptocurrency mixers may be facing its toughest battle yet.
