The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Russia-based Aeza Group, a bulletproof hosting provider, and a cryptocurrency wallet holding $350,000 tied to its illicit operations.
This action targets Aeza Group’s core infrastructure, widely known for enabling cybercriminals through anonymized services, and directly disrupts access to significant crypto assets associated with its illegal activities.
Blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis and TRM Labs played a crucial role by identifying the specific Tron blockchain accounts sanctioned, tracing their connections to Aeza’s hosting services and aiding enforcement agencies.
The sanctions extend to key individuals in Aeza Group’s leadership. CEO Arsenii Penzev, along with others, faces asset freezes and prohibitions from conducting business with US entities. Former deputy Igor Knyazev is identified as the current manager.
Cybersecurity experts emphasize that targeting bulletproof hosting providers like Aeza represents a strategic approach, disrupting critical infrastructure foundational to large-scale cybercrime operations.
This move underscores ongoing US efforts to enhance cryptocurrency ecosystem security and compliance, emphasizing coordinated enforcement actions and advanced blockchain analytics to mitigate cybercrime risks and illicit finance.