US sanctions two Russians accused of laundering crypto for North Korean IT workers

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on Russian nationals Ilya Boykov and Vitold Obertas over alleged money laundering tied to North Korea. According to the allegations, Boykov converted roughly $3.5 million in cryptocurrency and Obertas converted nearly $2 million on North Korea's behalf. The funds were linked to North Korean IT workers, a scheme that has been used to generate revenue for the regime. The sanctions aim to disrupt the networks that help move illicit crypto proceeds out of North Korea.