US sanctions cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash on Monday for aiding hackers such asNorth Koreacriticized. , laundering proceeds from cybercrime.
A senior Treasury official said Tornado Cash was one of the largest mixers identified as problematic by the Treasury Department.
Monday's move freezes all of Mixer's U.S. assets, leaving Americans typically unable to handle it.
The Lazarus Group, a well-known North Korean government-backed hacking group,committed numerous data breaches,both politically and sometimes financially motivated, Tornado cash at least $455 million, the Treasury Department said.
Lazarus Group is already subject to US sanctions. The group has a history of many significant data breaches, including a breach at Sony Pictures in late 2014.
US and South Korean officials say North Korea controls thousands of hackers who steal funds, including cryptocurrencies, to fund its weapons programme.
Pyongyang denies the accusations.
Tornado Cash and the North Korean delegation to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tornado Cash was also used to launder about $100 million from the June hack of cryptocurrency firm Harmony, and was also used in the theft of cryptocurrency tech firm Nomad last week. , said the Ministry of Finance.
Tornado Despite previous requests for changes to Cash, criminal activity continues, leading Treasury officials to a decision to designate a mixer. said.
In May, the U.S. Treasury Department also targeted Blender, a cryptocurrency mixer, imposing sanctions for the first time on Blender, a software tool that pools and scrambles cryptocurrencies from thousands of addresses. .
Hacks have plagued crypto platforms for a long time. Experts say Tornado Cash is implicated in these crimes.
"Tornado is a popular and important tool for cybercriminals and state-sponsored hacking groups," said Dr. Tom Robinson, co-founder of cryptocurrency analytics firm Elliptic. I'm here. “In total, at least $1.3 billion in ransomware, hacking, fraud and other criminal proceeds are laundered through Tornado Cash, according to Elliptic's analysis.”
