US Seizes $1M in Crypto From BlackSuit Ransomware Gang
▼ Summary
– The U.S. DoJ seized $1,091,453 in cryptocurrency from the BlackSuit ransomware gang on January 9, 2024, after tracking its movement across exchanges.
– The funds were part of a ransom payment of 49.3 Bitcoin ($1,445,000 at the time) made by an unnamed victim on April 4, 2023.
– The seizure followed an international law enforcement operation, ‘Operation Checkmate,’ which disrupted BlackSuit’s dark web extortion portals.
– BlackSuit and related groups (Royal, Quantum, Chaos) have conducted 450 attacks in the U.S. and received over $370 million in ransom payments.
– The FBI also seized 20 Bitcoins ($2.4 million) from a Chaos ransomware member, highlighting ongoing efforts to forfeit cybercrime proceeds.
U.S. authorities have confiscated over $1 million in cryptocurrency linked to the notorious BlackSuit ransomware group, marking another significant blow to cybercriminal operations. The seizure, executed on January 9, 2024, targeted funds traced through multiple exchanges as hackers attempted to launder their illicit gains.
Investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia meticulously followed the digital trail, eventually freezing the assets at a cooperating exchange. The seized amount originated from a ransom payment of 49.3 Bitcoin (worth roughly $1.4 million at the time), paid by an undisclosed victim in April 2023.
This crackdown follows Operation Checkmate, a coordinated international effort that dismantled BlackSuit’s dark web extortion portals. The group, also tied to Royal, Quantum, and Chaos ransomware variants, has been responsible for hundreds of attacks across critical sectors like healthcare, education, and government. According to the Department of Homeland Security, these cybercriminals have extorted over $370 million from U.S. victims alone.
In a related move, the FBI Dallas field office recently seized 20 Bitcoin (valued at $2.4 million) tied to a key Chaos ransomware affiliate. The DOJ has filed a civil complaint to permanently forfeit these assets, underscoring the government’s strategy to disrupt ransomware networks by cutting off their financial lifelines.
Stripping cybercriminals of their profits is a critical tactic, particularly when arrests remain elusive. Without these funds, ransomware operators struggle to rebuild infrastructure or recruit new members, weakening their ability to launch future attacks. The latest seizures demonstrate law enforcement’s growing proficiency in tracking and neutralizing cryptocurrency-based crime.
(Source: Bleeping Computer)
