U.S. authorities have brought charges against individuals responsible for managing cryptocurrency mixers Blender and Sinbad.
In a significant development, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia has indicted Roman Ostapenko, Alexander Oleynik, and Anton Tarasov for their alleged involvement in money laundering activities. The indictment, unsealed on July 1, 2025, accuses the trio of operating cryptocurrency mixers Blender.io and Sinbad.io.
The indictment, however, does not disclose the exact amount of money laundered through these platforms or the identities of the victims of the crimes related to Blender.io and Sinbad.io. What is known is that these mixers were used by criminals worldwide to launder funds stolen from ransomware and other nefarious activities.
Roman Ostapenko and Alexander Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024, while Anton Tarasov remains at large. The legal proceedings against Ostapenko and Oleynik are ongoing, but the current status is not specified in the indictment. As for Tarasov, his current whereabouts are unknown.
The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting service. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to launder funds and up to 5 years for each count of conducting an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
The sanctions imposed on Blender.io were made by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in May 2022, and Sinbad.io was added to the sanctions list in November 2023. Both platforms gained popularity after the Tornado Cash platform was blacklisted.
The indictment does not reveal the methods used by the defendants to conceal the origin of the laundered funds. The specific details about the current status of their indictment, any court proceedings, or resolutions have not been publicly disclosed in the available information.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it is hoped that this case will serve as a deterrent to those involved in money laundering activities and a step towards a more secure digital economy. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
In the realm of general-news, the ongoing legal proceedings against Roman Ostapenko and Alexander Oleynik, who are accused of money laundering activities, are taking place in connection to their involvement with cryptocurrency mixers Blender.io and Sinbad.io. Simultaneously, the finance sector is keeping a close eye on the crime-and-justice aspect as Anton Tarasov, a co-defendant, remains at large.
