Summary
- The U.S. Treasury Department said it has designated the Russian firm Operation Zero and related individuals for sanctions over illegal trading of hacking tools intended for U.S. government use.
- It said the payment for the hacking technology was reportedly made in cryptoassets (cryptocurrency) worth several million dollars.
- It said the sanctions are interpreted as measures simultaneously aimed at the illicit leakage of military and intelligence-related technologies and international transactions conducted via cryptoassets.
The U.S. Treasury Department has designated the Russian company Operation Zero and related individuals for sanctions over alleged illegal trading of hacking tools developed for use by the U.S. government.
According to the Treasury on the 24th (local time), the hacking technology was originally developed by a defense contractor for use by U.S. government agencies. In the process, an employee of the contractor is believed to have stolen the technology and sold it to Operation Zero.
The transaction was reportedly paid for in cryptocurrency worth several million dollars. However, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) did not disclose the specific cryptocurrency addresses used in the deal.
The sanctions are seen as targeting both the illicit leakage of military and intelligence-related technologies and international transactions conducted via cryptoassets.
JH Kim
reporter1@bloomingbit.ioHi, I'm a Bloomingbit reporter, bringing you the latest cryptocurrency news.
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