Security News > 2023 > November > US seizes Sinbad crypto mixer used by North Korean Lazarus hackers

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned the Sinbad cryptocurrency mixing service for its use as a money-laundering tool by the North Korean Lazarus hacking group.

Today, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned Sinbad.io for its alleged use by North Korean hackers who have performed large-scale crypto heists, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

Lazarus is a notorious North Korean hacking group known for its phishing attacks, fake employee recruitments, and exploiting blockchain vulnerabilities to steal millions in crypto, including $620 million from Axie Infinity, $100 million from Harmony Horizon, the Atomic Wallet hacks, and $37 million from CoinsPaid.

According to the Treasury Department, Sinbad was used to mix most of the stolen funds from the Atomic Wallet, Axie Infinity, and Horizon hacks.

In addition to sanctioning the crypto mixer, the domain for the Sinbad website has been seized in an international law enforcement operation conducted by the U.S., Netherlands, and Poland.

In 2022, OFAC sanctioned the Tornado Cash mixer for its use by North Korean hackers to launder stolen funds.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-seizes-sinbad-crypto-mixer-used-by-north-korean-lazarus-hackers/