French
DeutschChipMixer
 | |
Type of site | Cryptocurrency tumbler |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Country of origin | Vietnam |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Launched | 2017 |
| Current status | Defunct |
ChipMixer was a cryptocurrency laundering service operated out of Vietnam from servers run in Germany.[1] The service was allegedly used to launder more than three billion dollars over a period of six years.[2]
Service
[edit]The service allowed customers to obfuscate the origin of cryptocurrency transactions.[3] This anonymization was useful for criminals who used the service when purchasing illicit goods from darknet markets.[4] Additionally, criminals needing to hide the origins of ransomware payouts used the site.
Seizure
[edit]The website and backend servers were seized by the Bundespolizei, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Europol on March 15, 2023. The German police seized 46 million dollars in cryptocurrency.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Justice Department Investigation Leads to Takedown of Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer that Processed Over $3 Billion of Unlawful Transactions, US Department of Justice, 15.3.2023
- ^ "Int'l operation takes down ChipMixer money laundering service". MSN. UPI. March 16, 2023.
- ^ "German investigators take down crypto money laundering site". Associated Press. March 15, 2023.
- ^ Sun, Mengqi. "ChipMixer Is Shut Down for Allegedly Laundering $3 Billion in Crypto". WSJ.
- ^ "ChipMixer platform seized for laundering ransomware payments, drug sales". BleepingComputer. March 15, 2023.