Crypto Wallet Sanctioned in US Action Against Russian Cybercrime Host

Russia-based Aeza Group has been sanctioned by the US Treasury for allegedly offering ransomware and infostealer groups, among other offenders, bulletproof hosting services. CoinTelegraph reported, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also blacklisted four Aeza officials, three linked firms in Russia and the United Kingdom, and a cryptocurrency wallet with $350,000 in digital assets.

According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, the sanctioned Tron address acted as an administrative wallet, processing payments for Aeza’s services, routing funds to exchanges, and obscuring deposit origins through a payment processor. TRM Labs added that the address had ties to other cybercrime infrastructure and was indirectly connected to the sanctioned Russian crypto exchange Garantex.

OFAC alleges Aeza supported threat groups like Meduza, Lumma, and BianLian. The sanctions freeze all US-linked assets and prohibit American entities from engaging with the listed individuals or firms. Chainalysis called the move a key step in targeting cybercrime infrastructure beyond individual attackers.

Swissquote Faces Regulatory Pressure Over Surge in Impersonation Attempts

Swissquote, the online trading platform that powers the cryptocurrency-friendly Yuh app, has been ordered by Swiss regulators to stop the growing number of phishing and impersonation frauds that target its services. In the first half of 2025, more than 600 fake websites imitating Swissquote or hosting fraudulent login pages were identified, according to Bloomberg.

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) flagged the Yuh app, which supports crypto trading, as a frequent target of these fraud campaigns. Swissquote CEO Marc Buerki linked the growth in hostile behaviour to the availability of AI tools, which make such assaults easier to carry out. He stated that, despite the increase in impersonation attempts, no internal systems had been penetrated.

The broader crypto space continues to battle scams, with phishing, fake websites, and social engineering among the most common tactics. So far in 2025, onchain thefts have led to around $2.1 billion in losses, with several high-profile victims falling prey to sophisticated fraud.

FATF’s Latest Report Points to Upcoming Regulatory Pressure on Crypto

Global crypto regulations are increasingly aligning with the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) anti-money laundering standards, with 73 per cent of eligible jurisdictions implementing the FATF’s Travel Rule, Cointelegraph reported. The Travel Rule, which was implemented in 2019, mandates crypto service providers to gather and share consumer transaction data, similar to rules in traditional finance.

The FATF stated in its recent annual report that laws governing stablecoins, DeFi platforms, and offshore exchanges remain a top priority. These areas are under growing scrutiny due to their potential use in illicit finance, including by state-backed actors. FATF plans to publish specific guidance on these sectors by mid-2026, signaling the direction of upcoming enforcement.

While cryptocurrency destinations like Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong have tried to bring in digital asset companies, experts argue that most jurisdictions already have comparable licensing requirements. The international regulatory environment is coming together under FATF's framework, despite variations in methodology.