US Seizes Crypto and 145 Domains in Major Darknet Takedown

The US Department of Justice has taken action against the darknet marketplace known as BidenCash, announcing the seizure of cryptocurrency assets and 145 internet domains linked to its operations.

The announcement came from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, detailing the culmination of a coordinated investigation into a platform that had facilitated the sale of stolen credit card data and personal information to thousands of users.

Crypto Seizure and Domain Takedown

Launched in March 2022, BidenCash quickly emerged as a hub for illicit transactions, offering stolen payment credentials and identity data to a growing customer base.

The marketplace reportedly accumulated more than 117,000 users and was responsible for the distribution of over 15 million compromised payment card numbers. The DOJ stated that BidenCash administrators collected fees on transactions and earned over $17 million in revenue during its run.

As part of the enforcement effort, authorities obtained court approval to seize cryptocurrency funds that were used by BidenCash to facilitate the exchange of illicit goods and services.

The specific amounts and wallet addresses involved have not been disclosed, but the government emphasized that these digital assets represented proceeds from illegal transactions conducted on the platform.

Moving forward, the seized domains will be redirected to law enforcement-controlled servers, preventing further access or use. The investigation also revealed a promotional tactic used by BidenCash: between October 2022 and February 2023, the platform published 3.3 million stolen credit cards free of charge to encourage wider usage of its services.

These leaked datasets contained full cardholder information, including credit card numbers, CVV codes, expiration dates, names, email addresses, and physical locations. The exposure of this information raised significant concerns around identity theft and fraud in affected jurisdictions.

International Collaboration and Cybercrime Enforcement

The enforcement operation was led by the US Secret Service’s Frankfurt Resident Office and the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, with cyber forensic assistance from the Secret Service’s Cyber Investigative Section.

The case also involved international coordination with law enforcement bodies, including the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit, The Shadowserver Foundation, and cybersecurity firm Searchlight Cyber.

Officials involved in the announcement included US Attorney Erik S. Siebert, Special Agent John Szydlik of the US Secret Service, and Acting Special Agent Philip Russell of the FBI.

The operation marks a continuation of US federal efforts to dismantle cybercriminal infrastructure operating on the dark web and to disrupt illegal marketplaces that rely on cryptocurrency for payments.

This takedown follows other notable actions against dark web platforms in recent years, including the closures of Hydra Market and AlphaBay.

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