Founder of Cryptocurrency Exchange Bitzlato Arrested in $700 Million Money Laundering Case

Founder of Cryptocurrency Exchange Bitzlato Arrested in $700 Million Money Laundering Case

  • The founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato, Anatoly Legkodymov, was detained in Miami on Tuesday.
  • According to the Justice Department, Bitzlato handled illegal transactions, including millions of dollars in ransomware earnings.
  • Bitzlato is said to have profited by more than $15 million from ransomware attacks.
  • Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said during the news conference that Bitzlato is a critical financial resource for Hydra, the biggest dark web market. 
  • According to the DOJ, until the market was shut down by federal authorities in April 2022, users of Hydra Market transferred over $700 million in different cryptocurrencies with Bitzlato.

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