{"id":494187,"date":"2025-08-16T00:00:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T23:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/?p=494187"},"modified":"2025-08-16T02:10:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T01:10:09","slug":"us-authorities-raid-ransomware-operator-seize-2-8m-in-crypto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/us-authorities-raid-ransomware-operator-seize-2-8m-in-crypto\/","title":{"rendered":"US authorities raid ransomware operator, seize $2.8M in crypto"},"content":{"rendered":"

The U.S. Justice Department authorized the seizure of more than $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, cash, and other assets from a suspected ransomware operator, according to an Aug. 14 announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Federal prosecutors unsealed six warrants tied to Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, charging him with conspiring to commit computer fraud and abuse, committing computer fraud and abuse, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.<\/p>\n

In addition to the crypto, authorities also seized $70,000 in cash and a luxury vehicle. The digital assets seized in the raid are expected to be added to the government\u2019s growing crypto reserve.<\/p>\n

According to the Justice Department, the assets were linked to ransomware proceeds and laundered through methods including the now-defunct mixing service ChipMixer, which was dismantled in an international operation in 2023.<\/p>\n

Officials said Antropenko also converted crypto to cash and made structured deposits to avoid detection.<\/p>\n

Part of expanding federal stockpile<\/h2>\n

The case marks the latest government action involving crypto that could be directed into the U.S. national crypto reserve, created by an executive order enacted<\/a> by President Donald Trump<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced the seizure of roughly $1 million from the ransomware group BlackSuit and moved to claim $2.4 million in Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>) seized by the FBI in Dallas in April.<\/p>\n

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent<\/a> recently revealed that the government\u2019s Bitcoin holdings, acquired through criminal asset forfeitures after victim restitution, totaled about $20 billion.<\/p>\n

Bessent drew attention earlier in the week after saying the government would not be buying additional Bitcoin for the reserve. He later backtracked and clarified<\/a> that the Treasury will continue to seek \u201cbudget-neutral<\/a>\u201d ways to expand its holdings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The U.S. Justice Department authorized the seizure of more than $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, cash, and other assets from a suspected ransomware operator, according to an Aug. 14 announcement. Federal prosecutors unsealed six warrants tied to Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, charging him with conspiring to commit computer fraud and abuse, committing computer fraud and abuse, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1250,"featured_media":494199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76799,1,77968],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUS authorities raid ransomware operator, seize $2.8M in crypto<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Federal effort dismantles ransomware operations, seizing digital and luxury assets totaling $2.8 million.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/us-authorities-raid-ransomware-operator-seize-2-8m-in-crypto\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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