Ransomware gangs cut off from EUR 336 million ‘AudiA6’ crypto laundering pipeline

(Europol) An international law enforcement operation has dismantled one of the cryptocurrency laundering services most trusted by ransomware gangs and cybercriminal networks, cutting off a key financial pipeline used to wash hundreds of millions in illicit profits. The service, known as ‘AudiA6’, is suspected of laundering more than EUR 336 million between 2022 and 2025. Investigators believe the platform became a central hub for ransomware actors and cybercriminals seeking to cash out stolen digital assets while hiding the money trail from authorities. The suspects behind ‘AudiA6’ are also believed to have administered the dark web cybercrime forum ‘Dark2Web’, a criminal marketplace used to advertise illicit services and connect cybercriminal actors worldwide. The parallel investigations were conducted by the United States Secret Service and the IRS Criminal Investigation on one side, and the Polish Police on the other, together with EU Member States and other international law enforcement partners, with the support of Europol and Eurojust. – Ransomware gangs cut off from EUR 336 million ‘AudiA6’ crypto laundering pipeline – Europol analysis links the criminal service to over 15 international cybercrime investigations | Europol