Australian Executive Accused of Selling Cyber Secrets to Russia for Crypto
Peter Williams, an Australian and U.S. resident, pleaded guilty to selling eight sensitive U.S. cyber-exploit tools, including zero-day capabilities developed for the U.S. intelligence community and shared with Five Eyes allies, to a Russian broker with government ties. Williams received over $1.26 million in cryptocurrency, with contracts promising up to $4 million more. He continued selling exploits even after learning of an FBI investigation and laundered crypto through anonymized transactions, spending proceeds on luxury goods and property. Prosecutors seek a nine-year prison term, $35 million restitution, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release, citing risks to Five Eyes intelligence operations. The case illustrates the increasing use of cryptocurrency in espionage and national security crimes, due to crypto’s speed and cross-border capabilities, despite improved regulatory controls. Authorities warn that crypto should be viewed as both a financial and national security threat in such cases. Williams admitted his actions were selfish and acknowledged the harm caused.
