The U.S. strikes to shut down a North Korean cryptocurrency money laundering network

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it has taken action to shut down a North Korean cryptocurrency money laundering network that has laundered millions of dollars for North Korea, a major player in global crypto crime.

According to a press release from the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a shell company based in the UAE named Green Alpine Trading, LLC was found to be exchanging cryptocurrency for cash, providing funding to North Korea. The U.S. government's sanctions office has blacklisted the company and sanctioned two Chinese nationals who have been involved in the network since 2022.

The press release stated that the UAE cooperated with the U.S. in this operation. It is currently unclear what has happened to the two sanctioned Chinese nationals—Lu Huaying and Zhang Jian. According to the press release, they collaborated with North Korea's "agent" Sim Hyon Sop to engage in illegal activities.