The United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned a cryptocurrency wallet tied to Aeza Group, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting provider.
Holding roughly $350,000 in crypto assets, the wallet is accused of fueling ransomware attacks and info-stealing operations that have targeted victims worldwide, including in the U.S.
OFAC Combacts Cyber Crimes
Aeza Group, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, provides bulletproof hosting services—specialized servers designed to resist takedown efforts by authorities.
These servers have supported notorious ransomware groups like BianLian and infostealer operations such as Meduza, Lumma, and RedLine. It has also hosted BlackSprut, a darknet marketplace trafficking illegal drugs, including fentanyl precursors, into the U.S.
The sanctioned crypto wallet, which holds roughly $350,000 in crypto assets and operates on the Tron blockchain, served as an administrative hub, handling payments and funneling funds to global exchanges.
Alongside the wallet, OFAC designated Aeza’s CEO, Arsenii Penzev, general director Yurii Bozoyan, and two other executives, as well as three affiliated companies, including a UK-based front, Aeza International Ltd.
This move freezes all U.S.-based assets of the targeted entities and bans Americans from doing business with them, aiming to choke off the financial lifelines of cybercrime.
Global Effort to Combat Cyber Threats
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. strategy to dismantle cybercrime infrastructure, following similar actions against other Russian hosting providers like Zservers in February 2025. Coordinated with the UK’s National Crime Agency, this effort highlights the global nature of cybercrime and the need for international cooperation.
Meanwhile, the U.S has engaged in similar sanctions and crackdowns recently in a bid to make the country uncomfortable for crypto cyber criminals. For example, the United States Department of Justice dealt a significant blow to crypto fraud earlier in June, filing a civil forfeiture complaint in Washington, D.C., to seize over $225.3 million in stolen digital currency. This marks the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service history.
Elsewhere, South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has blocked 14 unregistered crypto exchanges, including prominent platforms like KuCoin and MEXC, from operating within its borders. This decisive move aims to safeguard its financial ecosystem, curb illicit activities, and protect investors in a rapidly growing digital market.
