Blender.io (OFAC Sanctioned)

Blender.io (also known as Blender) was a Bitcoin-based cryptocurrency mixer that operated starting in 2017. It became notable for being designated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in May 2022 as a sanctioned virtual-currency mixer, with OFAC stating it processed hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit transactions and specifically laundered proceeds linked to the Lazarus Group and other cybercriminal activities. Following the sanctions, Blender.io was blocked under U.S. law, and reports and OFAC updates indicate its operators and related infrastructure were targeted; the designation identified Blender’s websites and alternate domains, and it has been described as defunct or superseded in subsequent enforcement and reporting. (home.treasury.gov)

Key points

• Type: Virtual-currency mixer on the Bitcoin blockchain. (home.treasury.gov)
• Sanctions: OFAC designated Blender.io on May 6, 2022, blocking its property and prohibiting related transactions. (home.treasury.gov)
• Allegations: Facilitated money-laundering for the Lazarus Group (North Korea) and other ransomware groups; involved in laundering proceeds from notable heists. (home.treasury.gov)
• Status: Public reporting and sanctions history place Blender.io as a sanctioned, restricted service; sources indicate it became defunct or reduced activity in the subsequent enforcement period. (ofac.treasury.gov)

Notes

• Official designations and information about Blender.io’s sanctioned status are documented by OFAC and U.S. government press releases. (ofac.treasury.gov)
• Additional contemporaneous reporting provides context on the $500M+ in transfers and the linkage to illicit activities. (home.treasury.gov)