Could This Be the Biggest Crypto Crime Takedown Yet?
Key Highlights
• U.S. launches coordinated sanctions and cash bounties to dismantle Russian-linked crypto exchange Garantex.
• Officials say $96B in transactions tied to ransomware, hacking, and terrorism flowed through the platform.
Yello Paradisers! Washington just took aim at what it calls one of the most prolific digital laundromats in history, and it’s dangling millions in cash for anyone willing to help take it apart. The target: Garantex, a Russian-linked exchange accused of pumping billions through ransomware rings, hacker crews, and even terrorist networks.
The State Department is offering up to $5 million for intel leading to the capture of Russian national Aleksandr Mira Serda, plus another $1 million for tips on other senior members. Potential whistleblowers have been urged to contact the U.S. Secret Service through secure channels.
Sanctions and Successors in the Crosshairs
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control isn’t just revisiting old sanctions, it’s expanding them. Alongside a fresh strike on Garantex, OFAC has blacklisted Grinex, which investigators say was set up as its replacement.
Three top executives and six affiliated companies in Russia and Kyrgyzstan are now locked out of the U.S. financial system. Investigators allege that between April 2019 and March 2025, Garantex moved more than $96 billion in crypto, much of it linked to criminal enterprises.
Choking the Crypto Crime Pipeline
By targeting both the original exchange and its alleged successor, the U.S. aims to disrupt the very infrastructure that lets illicit funds streak across borders at the speed of blockchain. This is part of an evolving playbook: if you can’t catch every bad actor, you choke off the platforms they depend on.
In our MCP YouTube stream, we’ll break down why these sanctions could ripple far beyond Garantex, and what traders should watch if U.S. enforcement starts biting into broader crypto liquidity. MCP News Private members will get the deeper dive, tactical insights, and cross-market implications for just $3/month, cheaper than that bottled water you didn’t really need, but far more refreshing for your portfolio.
