U.S. sanctions 10 for laundering crypto for North Korean IT workers

October 29, 2026

OFAC sanctioned 10 individuals and one entity on Oct. 28 for laundering cryptocurrency tied to North Korean IT worker schemes, which funnel wages from disguised remote workers into Pyongyang's weapons programs.

Russian nationals Ilya Boykov and Vitold Obertas allegedly converted about $3.5 million and nearly $2 million in crypto, respectively; Obertas also moved at least $1.25 million in other currencies for North Korean officials since January 2025.
The package also targeted the First Financial and Technical Development Center, a North Korean-controlled organization in Russia whose six designated workers generated more than $750,000 since 2025.
The designation notice lists eight crypto addresses on Ethereum and Tron; Chainalysis says it traced a North Korean IT worker's crypto earnings through Boykov to sanctioned exchange Garantex.

It follows Treasury's March action against six people and two companies that laundered $800 million in crypto for North Korea.

Russian nationals Ilya Boykov and Vitold Obertas allegedly converted about $3.5 million and nearly $2 million in crypto, respectively; Obertas also moved at least $1.25 million in other currencies for North Korean officials since January 2025.
The package also targeted the First Financial and Technical Development Center, a North Korean-controlled organization in Russia whose six designated workers generated more than $750,000 since 2025.
The designation notice lists eight crypto addresses on Ethereum and Tron; Chainalysis says it traced a North Korean IT worker's crypto earnings through Boykov to sanctioned exchange Garantex.

It follows Treasury's March action against six people and two companies that laundered $800 million in crypto for North Korea.

U.S. sanctions 10 for laundering crypto for North Korean IT workers

Sources

U.S. sanctions 10 for laundering crypto for North Korean IT workers

Sources