FBI Seizes More Than $2.2 Million Worth of Bitcoin from Ransomware Partner – News

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized more than $2.2 million worth of Bitcoin linked to ransomware payments. The cryptocurrency is reportedly owned by a subsidiary of Gandcrab and Revil/Sodinokibi ransomware.

US seizes over $2 million worth of Bitcoin

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confiscated Nearly 40 bitcoins were stolen from a Russian resident linked to the Revil and Gandcrab ransomware, according to a court document unsealed on Tuesday. The confiscation complaint reads:

The United States of America files this verified in rem lawsuit against 39,89138522 Bitcoin seized from the Exodus wallet...which is now in the custody and management of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Division.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin price is around $56,318.06 based on data from Bitcoin.com Markets. The amount seized is nearly $2.247 million.

The seizure took place on August 3rd. While the FBI did not reveal how it obtained the wallet, the court document explains that the wallet contained ransom payments from Revil that belonged to an associate identified as Aleksandr Sikerin (aka Alexander Sikerin and Oleksandr Sikerin). , whose email address is engfog1337@gmail.com.

According to Bleeping Computer, the name “engfog” in the email address is tied to a well-known Gandcrab and Revil/Sodinokibi affiliate called “Lalartu.”

The Gandcrab and Revil organizations operated as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), in which core operators work with third-party hackers called affiliates, the news outlet noted, adding that ransom payments are split between the affiliates and the core operators. The operators typically earn between 20 and 30% of the ransom.

Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had seized $6.1 million from Yevgeniy Polyanin, a Russian “accused of using Sodinokibi/Revil ransomware to attack companies and government entities in the United States.”

Meanwhile, the US government is increasing its efforts to combat ransomware attacks. The Treasury already has sanctioned two cryptocurrency exchanges tied to ransom payments.

What do you think about the FBI seizing Bitcoin in connection with ransomware attacks? Let us know in the comments section below.

Photo credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons