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FBI Tracks 1,610 BTC to Armenian Hacker in Explosive Ransomware Case

2025-07-18 02:44:00

FBI Tracks 1,610 BTC to Armenian Hacker in Explosive Ransomware Case

Main Idea

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted an Armenian national for a ransomware scheme involving Ryuk malware, tracing 1,610 BTC in ransom payments.

Key Points

1. Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, a 33-year-old Armenian, was indicted for a ransomware campaign targeting U.S. companies between March 2019 and September 2020.

2. The FBI tracked 1,610 BTC in ransom payments, valued at over $15 million at the time.

3. The DOJ's Office of International Affairs collaborated in the investigation, with Vardanyan awaiting trial starting August 26.

4. Some co-conspirators remain fugitives in Ukraine.

Description

A massive ransomware ring is collapsing as U.S. authorities track 1,610 BTC in ransom payments, leveraging bitcoin trails to identify and charge global cybercriminals. Bitcoin Ransom Plot Crashes as US Closes in on Ryuk Mastermind The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on July 16 that a ransomware suspect extradited from Ukraine has been charged

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