US DOJ Seizes $2.8M in Crypto Linked to Alleged Ransomware Operation

The US Justice Department has seized over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency tied to an alleged ransomware scheme orchestrated by foreign national Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko. Warrants unsealed across three federal districts reveal the confiscation also included $70,000 in cash and a luxury vehicle.

Prosecutors allege Antropenko deployed Zeppelin ransomware to target global victims, encrypting data and demanding payments. The seized assets, traced to a controlled wallet, represent proceeds allegedly laundered through tools like ChipMixer to obscure their origins.

This action underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny on crypto's role in cybercrime. While no specific coins were named, the case highlights ongoing tensions between blockchain transparency and illicit activity—a pivotal narrative for institutional adoption.