The US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on a Tron cryptocurrency wallet linked to the Aeza Group, a Russian internet infrastructure firm known for providing bulletproof hosting services to cybercriminal groups.
The sanctions targeted the wallet address operating on the Tron blockchain that facilitated transactions related to ransomware attacks, illegal drug markets, and compromising US information, aiming to disrupt malicious activities of cybercriminals.
Four individuals associated with Aeza and four related entities were added to the Specially Designated Nationals list by OFAC. The wallet received over $350,000 in digital assets, converted to fiat through exchanges, and aided in cybercriminal cashouts.
The sanctions signify a strategic shift by the US government towards targeting the broader technical ecosystem supporting ransomware groups globally. Aeza's involvement with ransomware infrastructure and hosting a darknet marketplace tied to illegal drug trafficking were highlighted.