OFAC Sanctions Russian Hosting Provider for Enabling Crypto Theft
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Russian bulletproof hosting provider Aeza Group for facilitating cybercriminal activities, including ransomware attacks and darknet drug markets targeting global victims. Bulletproof hosting providers like Aeza Group offer infrastructure resistant to law enforcement, enabling cybercriminals to operate freely. OFAC designated a crypto address linked to Aeza Group that received over $350,000 and is connected to the sanctioned exchange Garantex. Aeza Group has hosted ransomware groups such as BianLian and supported infostealer operations and the darknet drug marketplace Blacksprut. Key figures in Aeza Group include CEO Arsenii Penzev and General Director Yurii Bozoyan, both previously arrested for hosting drug marketplaces. OFAC also sanctioned three affiliated entities: Aeza International Ltd., Aeza Logistic LLC, and Cloud Solutions LLC. The sanctions block all property and interests of the designated parties within U.S. jurisdiction, prohibiting transactions involving them.
