Odaily Planet Daily News: The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Russian cybersecurity company Operation Zero and its leader Sergey Sergeyevich Zelenyuk, accusing the company of funding cyber theft activities targeting U.S. trade secrets through cryptocurrency. The sanctions also include five other individuals accused of using cyber attack tools to threaten U.S. national security.
This action stems from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation last year. Australian citizen Peter Williams admitted to stealing proprietary software from his employer, a U.S. defense contractor, and delivering confidential information to Operation Zero in exchange for millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Williams has pleaded guilty to two counts of trade secret theft.
The U.S. Treasury stated that Operation Zero primarily engages in trading exploit tools that leverage software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, steal data, or control devices. The company also pays rewards through a bounty system to those who carry out attacks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that if anyone steals U.S. trade secrets, the U.S. government will hold them accountable and will continue to protect sensitive technology and national security.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Phantom Receives CFTC's First Exemptive Letter, Confirming Non-Custodial Crypto Wallets Do Not Need to Register as Brokers
Phantom has received the first No-Action Letter issued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing it to connect users to regulated derivatives markets without registering as an intermediary broker. This move confirms its status as a non-custodial software provider and advances a clear compliance framework, with expectations to establish long-term regulatory guidance that benefits the blockchain ecosystem.
ChainNewsAbmedia1h ago
Arizona Files Charges Against Kalshi, Calling Prediction Market an 'Illegal Gambling Operation'
In brief
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed criminal charges against Kalshi, alleging the platform is an "illegal gambling operation."
The 20 criminal counts include 16 related to betting and wagering, and 4 counts regarding violations of election wagering.
Kalshi preemptively
Decrypt1h ago
Argentina Blocks Polymarket as Crackdown on Prediction Markets Expands
Argentina has banned the betting platform Polymarket due to its unlicensed gambling activities and concerns about minors' access. This move follows similar actions in Colombia and reflects a broader trend of regulatory enforcement in Latin America and beyond.
CryptoBreaking5h ago
A Chinese hacker group exposed itself due to an internal dispute over the division of stolen funds, having stolen approximately 7 million USD in cryptocurrency assets.
A hacker group has engaged in internal conflict over profit-sharing disputes, publicly exposing that they stole approximately $7 million in cryptocurrency assets through supply chain attacks. The group impersonated a network security company and used automated tools to obtain seed phrases and steal multi-chain wallet data, involving 37 types of tokens. The whistleblower plans to surrender to law enforcement, and details of the incident are pending investigation.
GateNews8h ago
South Korea Police Issue New Crypto Seizure Guidelines
South Korea's National Police Agency has developed guidelines for managing seized cryptocurrencies, focusing on privacy coins. This includes compliance for seizing, storing, and managing these assets, addressing challenges posed by anonymity and illegal activities.
TodayqNews8h ago
JPEX Fraud Case: Lin Zuo and 7 Others Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud, Case Adjourned to June 1 for Further Questioning
The fraud case involving virtual asset trading platform JPEX was re-heard at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong on March 16, involving 8 defendants, including social media influencers and entertainers. The magistrate adjourned the case to June 1, while police have prosecuted 16 people in connection with this case.
GateNews9h ago
