Why was tornado cash arrested in Amsterdam?

The arrest in Amsterdam marks an escalation in global authorities’ crackdown against Tornado Cash and other crypto mixers. Such services operate by pooling together contributors’ funds and then redistributing them, making it harder for law enforcement to track the digital breadcrumbs that accompany cryptocurrency transactions.

Who is tornado cash?

A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Amsterdam for his suspected involvement in the development of Tornado Cash — a crypto mixer service that was banned earlier this month by the US Department of the Treasury for its role in laundering money from large-scale hacking operations, including those linked to state-sponsored North Korean cybergangs.

Could a 29-year-old developer be arrested for tornado cash?

The country's Fiscal Information and Investigation Service hasn't ruled out making more arrests. A 29-year-old developer suspected of being involved in the Tornado Cash protocol that's been sanctioned by the U.S. was arrested in Amsterdam on Friday, according to a statement from the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD).

Did storm & Semenov stop using Tornado cash?

The Lazarus Group, which was banned by the United States in 2019, was using Tornado Cash to launder funds it obtained from several major cybercrimes, and Storm and Semenov "did not take meaningful steps to reduce its use for illicit purposes," the Treasury statement said.