How wide reaching can the consequences of Chipmixer money laundering be?
With headlines such as: Int'l operation takes down ChipMixer money laundering service I suppose a discussion has to be had because they were prominently advertising their services in the forum that we all love.
It seems a 49 year old Vietnamese citizen called Minh Quoc Nguyen was the operator (as well as probable owner and main beneficiary) of Chipmixer. He has been named by the US justice department and his photo posted: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cyber/minh-quoc-nguyen
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The FBI website states this about him:
Remarks:
Nguyễn has basic training in cryptographic engineering and previously worked in decrypting communications and cyber reconnaissance. In 2016, Nguyễn earned a PhD in electronic engineering in Taiwan.
Caution:
Minh Quốc Nguyễn is wanted for his alleged direct involvement in stealing identities and engaging in money laundering activity in furtherance of obfuscating and facilitating the functionality of the ChipMixer service. Through this conduct, Nguyễn has allegedly facilitated the laundering of approximately $3 billion USD worth of Bitcoin. A large portion of the funds are directly associated with the victimization of people worldwide through ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency heists, the purchase of illicit drugs, the distribution and production of child sexual abuse material, and other crimes.
On March 14, 2023, Nguyễn was charged with Money Laundering, Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business, and Identity Theft in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.
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According to news outlets, German authorities seized servers and crypto worth $46 million. US authorities have accused Chipmixer of laundering over $3 billion since 2017. If international authorities will try to seize all funds related to Chipmixer as they are deemed to be illicit, then it is possible that an attempt could be made by authorities to retrieve all the funds that have been paid out as signature campaign fees as they have effectively promoted/advertised the service.
This could end up being very messy for a lot of members in the forum that participated in their signature campaigns if the FBI and US justice department decide to force forum members to repay all the money they received from Chipmixer as signature campaign income.
What signal does this international operation to seize Chipmixer send out to other mixers? I am no expert but as far as I can see, in the end, they all will be marked by various international agencies for eventual seizing and the arrest and trial or their owners.
How do those that participated in the Chipmixer signature campaign feel about this? Do you think you will be asked to repay all the money you received for promoting Chipmixer since the FBI and other international agencies have attributed them to money laundering?
It seems a 49 year old Vietnamese citizen called Minh Quoc Nguyen was the operator (as well as probable owner and main beneficiary) of Chipmixer. He has been named by the US justice department and his photo posted: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cyber/minh-quoc-nguyen
-----------
The FBI website states this about him:
Remarks:
Nguyễn has basic training in cryptographic engineering and previously worked in decrypting communications and cyber reconnaissance. In 2016, Nguyễn earned a PhD in electronic engineering in Taiwan.
Caution:
Minh Quốc Nguyễn is wanted for his alleged direct involvement in stealing identities and engaging in money laundering activity in furtherance of obfuscating and facilitating the functionality of the ChipMixer service. Through this conduct, Nguyễn has allegedly facilitated the laundering of approximately $3 billion USD worth of Bitcoin. A large portion of the funds are directly associated with the victimization of people worldwide through ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency heists, the purchase of illicit drugs, the distribution and production of child sexual abuse material, and other crimes.
On March 14, 2023, Nguyễn was charged with Money Laundering, Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business, and Identity Theft in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.
-----------
According to news outlets, German authorities seized servers and crypto worth $46 million. US authorities have accused Chipmixer of laundering over $3 billion since 2017. If international authorities will try to seize all funds related to Chipmixer as they are deemed to be illicit, then it is possible that an attempt could be made by authorities to retrieve all the funds that have been paid out as signature campaign fees as they have effectively promoted/advertised the service.
This could end up being very messy for a lot of members in the forum that participated in their signature campaigns if the FBI and US justice department decide to force forum members to repay all the money they received from Chipmixer as signature campaign income.
What signal does this international operation to seize Chipmixer send out to other mixers? I am no expert but as far as I can see, in the end, they all will be marked by various international agencies for eventual seizing and the arrest and trial or their owners.
How do those that participated in the Chipmixer signature campaign feel about this? Do you think you will be asked to repay all the money you received for promoting Chipmixer since the FBI and other international agencies have attributed them to money laundering?