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ChipMixer – the world’s largest centralized crypto mixer – was shut down today in a coordinated international law enforcement operation.
Elliptic’s analysis of blockchain transactions shows that ChipMixer was used to launder over $844 million in bitcoins that can be directly linked to illegal activity – including at least $666 million in thefts.
The most prolific hacks going through ChipMixer and today’s seizure featured on Elliptic Investigator.
ChipMixer was one of a variety of mixers used to launder the proceeds of hacks perpetrated by North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Mixer has also been used by ransomware gangs and darknet drug dealers.
ChipMixer’s website before and after the attack.
In total, more than $2.7 billion in Bitcoin has been sent through ChipMixer since it was founded in May 2017.
As part of the operation, law enforcement was able to seize $47.5 million in bitcoin from the mixer.
The US Department of Justice also announced that 49-year-old Minh Quốc Nguyễn of Hanoi, Vietnam, was charged with money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmission business and identity theft in connection with the operation of ChipMixer.
This article will be updated with further analysis.
