Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump to WSJ: US was aware of Israeli plans to attack Iran.
Yemen rallies statement: We send our condolences to Islamic Republic of Iran, its leadership and people, for the martyrdom of its heroic commanders and enlightened scientists.
Yemen rallies statement: We condemn Zionist aggression on Iran, send our condolences for its martys, and trust its ability to teach enemy the harshest lesson.
Air raid sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona, neighboring settlements in northern occupied Palestine.
Fars News Agency: 78 were martyred and 329 were wounded in Israeli aggression on residential neighborhoods in Tehran
Security source tells FARS: Iran's revenge will happen soon
Iran's FARS News Agency, citing security source, denies Israeli reports that Tehran has launched drones toward 'Israel'
The office of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani strongly condemned today’s Israeli aggression on Iran, denouncing it as a blatant criminal act that once again exposes the grave and ongoing threat the Zionist entity poses to regional peace and stability.
Loud explosions heard in the vicinity of Hamadan Province in Iran
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iran announces the martyrdom of the commander of the IRGC's aerospace force, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh

US imposes sanctions on Blender.io over alleged North Korean violation

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 May 2022 19:02
2 Min Read

This is the first case where the US sanctions the virtual currency "mixer".

  • x
  • Bitcoin blender.
    Bitcoin blender

The United States on Friday announced that it has sanctioned cryptocurrency mixer Blender.io, under the alibi that the currency was used by a cyber hacking group in North Korea to support a weapons program, according to the Department of Treasury.

This would be the first case where the US sanctions the virtual currency "mixer", which is a currency used to conceal or erase Bitcoin (or other currency) transaction history.

Lazarus group, the North Korean-backed cyber hacking group, allegedly stole $620 million worth of Ethereum from Axie Infinity, an online game. The group, Blender, was employed for the operation: it processed over $20.5 million of illicit funds.

According to Treasury, Blender was used by the DPRK "to support its malicious cyber activities and money-laundering of stolen virtual currency."

Related News

Trump urges Iran to take deal while praising brutal Israeli airstrikes

Washington gave 'Israel' green light to attack Iran: Axios

"Under the pressure of robust US and UN sanctions, the DPRK has resorted to illicit activities, including cyber-enabled heists from cryptocurrency exchanges and financial institutions, to generate revenue for its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs."

Treasury contends that Blender has been used to transfer $500 million worth of Bitcoin since 2019, in addition to aiding North Korea and supporting Russian-linked malign ransomware groups.

Last October, US Treasury released a report explaining that cryptocurrency "undermines US sanctions." 

The report focused on the idea that the use of crypto assets and trade will undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions and that if cryptocurrency continues the way it's running now, there will be less dependency on the US dollar and US financial institutions and systems in the future.

The US dollar, according to the International Monetary Fund, makes up over 60% of all central bank foreign exchange reserves and around 90% of all forex trades. In addition, almost 40% of world debt is in US dollars. 

  • United States
  • Blender.io
  • North Korea
  • Cryptocurrency

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • Today
Iranian demonstrators walk on a caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 28, 2025 (AP)

Iran hits 'Israel' hard without arms; intel breach lays Tel Aviv bare

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency flies in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP)

Tehran unravels documents exposing secret IAEA-'Israel' collusion

  • Politics
  • 12 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
U.S. National Guard are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following a immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
US & Canada

ICE raids in LA trap families in harsh conditions: Lawyers

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks at a rally to garner support for a referendum on labor reform, in Cali, Colombia, on June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Politics

Petro slams US-linked coup plot, signs decree for popular consultation

President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on April 17, 2025. (AP)
US & Canada

World sees Trump as ‘arrogant’, ‘dangerous’ as ratings sink: Poll

he Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon on, Oct. 29, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
Politics

Future of $240bln AUKUS deal in doubt as Pentagon launches review

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS