The Trump administration sanctioned two high-ranking members of the Cartel del Noreste Wednesday — one of the most violent drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, Fox News Digital has learned. 

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the two leaders of the organizations, formerly known as Los Zetas. Officials said the gang exerts "significant influence over the border region," especially near the Laredo, Texas point of entry. 

DOJ INDICTS ALLEGED HIGH-RANKING TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBER ON TERRORISM CHARGES FOR THE FIRST TIME

The first individual sanctioned was Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema, a high-ranking member of Cartel del Noreste who oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for the group. According to the Treasury Department, he has overseen payments to facilitators and straw purchasers in the United States and organized the delivery of firearms to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico — straw purchasers who made false representations to secure firearms from American businesses, who officials say "fell victim to the cartel's lies." 

The Treasury Department said that one of the weapons purchased in this arms trafficking conspiracy was recovered after Cartel del Noreste attacked Mexico’s army during a patrol in March 2024. 

The second individual sanctioned was Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, who was known as the second-in-command of Cartel del Noreste before his February arrest by Mexican authorities. 

The Treasury Department said he led an armed enforcement wing of the organization. He had been arrested in connection with attacks on the Mexican military and Mexican police. 

At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a rifle, a handgun, 300 grams of methamphetamine and a package of 1,500 fentanyl pills. 

Officials said the new sanctions underscore the Trump administration’s commitment to targeting Cartel del Noreste and other violent cartels involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking and other heinous crimes endangering the American people. 

VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT USES TREN DE ARAGUA AS PROXIES TO UNDERMINE US PUBLIC SAFETY, FBI ASSESSMENT FINDS

"In working toward the total elimination of cartels to Make America Safe Again, the Trump Administration will hold these terrorists accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday. Cartel del Noreste "and its leaders have carried out a violent campaign of intimidation, kidnapping, and terrorism, threatening communities on both sides of our southern border." 

Bessent added, "We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities." 

The new sanctions were imposed in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Officials said the action was also closely coordinated with Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit. 

President of the National Border Patrol Council Paul Perez told Fox News Digital that President Donald Trump’s actions against cartels "fulfills the promise that he made when he stated time and time again that he would not allow the cartels to operate with impunity on our borders or within the interior of the United States." 

"These actions deal a significant blow and serves to send the message to all cartels, as well as to those who wish to do harm to Americans, that President Trump will not just talk about it, he will follow through," Perez said. "The amount of drugs, weapons and other contraband, to include the smuggling and trafficking of persons into and throughout the United States, created chaos and terror that the actions of the Trump administration is bringing to an end." 

"We fully and without hesitation support the actions taken by President Trump and his administration to take on the cartels," Perez added. 

The actions come after Trump directed cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. 

In April, the Justice Department hit a high-ranking member of Tren de Aragua on terrorism and international drug distribution charges — the first time the U.S. government has used terrorism charges to prosecute a member of the violent gang. 

Back in February, Elon Musk skewered the Treasury Department for lacking "basic controls" to stop payments to terrorist organizations, boasting at the Oval Office that "any company" has those controls.

Fast-forward three months, and now Musk's social media platform X is suspected of taking payments from sanctioned terrorists and providing premium features that make it easier to raise funds and spread propaganda—including through X's chatbot, Grok. Groups seemingly benefiting from X include Houthi rebels, Hezbollah, and Hamas, as well as groups from Syria, Kuwait, and Iran. Some accounts have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, paying to boost their reach while X apparently looks the other way.

In a report released Thursday, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) flagged popular accounts likely linked to US-sanctioned terrorists. Some of the accounts bear "ID verified" badges, suggesting that X may be going against its own policies that ban sanctioned terrorists from benefiting from its platform.

Read full article

Comments

The Trump administration sanctioned nearly two dozen firms operating in Iran’s illicit international oil trade, as President Donald Trump delivered remarks in the Middle East – tempting the Islamic Republic with a "much brighter future" should it come to a nuclear agreement with the United States. 

The sanctions, announced by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Tuesday, target firms that operate in Iran’s oil trade. 

TRUMP TARGETS IRANIAN OIL WITH SANCTIONS, INCREASING PRESSURE ON ISLAMIC REPUBLIC TO MAKE DEAL ON NUKES

Officials said the Iranian government allocates billions of dollars worth of oil annually to its armed forces to supplement budget allocations, underwriting the development of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and financing regional terrorist groups. 

Treasury Department officials said Iran’s Armed Forces general staff and its main commercial affiliate, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, continue to establish front companies and rely on buyers and facilitators to enable their sanctioned oil trade. 

Sepehr Energy often carries out its oil shipments through a series of "deals" between multiple front companies that it owns or controls, according to the Treasury Department, creating the "illusion of non-sanctionable trade between separate entities." 

"Many of the entities involved in Sepehr Energy’s oil shipments are part of an elaborate system of oil smuggling and money laundering, directly controlled by or acting on behalf of Sepehr Energy," the Treasury Department said, adding that it also controls Hong Kong-based front companies and uses them to "broker and receive shipments of Iranian oil delivered to independent so-called teapot refineries in China."  

4TH ROUND OF US-IRAN TALKS ENDS AS TRUMP SET TO EMBARK ON HISTORIC MIDDLE EAST TOUR

The sanctions came shortly after Trump delivered a speech in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, urging Iran to take a "new and a better path." The Trump administration is in talks with Iran for a new nuclear deal. 

The president, during his speech, though, warned of "massive maximum pressure" if Iran does not come to an agreement. 

"As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be profound," Trump said. "If Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch... we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero."

VANCE PREVIEWS US-IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS, SAYS TRUMP 'OPEN' TO SITTING DOWN WITH RUSSIANS, CHINESE IN FUTURE

"Iran can have a much brighter future, but we will never allow them to threaten America and our allies with terrorism or a nuclear attack," Trump said. 

Trump had announced a 60-day time frame to reach an agreement with Iran over its illegal atomic weapons program. The first U.S. negotiating session with Iran commenced April 12. 

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Iranian officials for a fourth round of nuclear talks over the weekend. 

The nuclear talks were "difficult but useful," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations, offered more, describing the talks as being both indirect and direct, The Associated Press reported.

An "agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements," the U.S. official said. "We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Trump administration has said the flawed 2015 Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, did not prevent Iran from building an atomic bomb. 

Before leaving for his trip to the Middle East, Trump reiterated his stance on Iran's nuclear goals. 

"You can't have a nuclear weapon, but I think that they are talking intelligently," Trump said. "We're in the midst of talking to them, and they're right now acting very intelligent. We want Iran to be wealthy and wonderful and happy and great, but they can't have… nuclear weapons. Very simple. So I think they understand that."

A day before the start of talks, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei welcomed chants of "Death to America" in Iran's capital, Tehran. 

"Your judgment is right," Khamenei told a crowd of supporters who called for the destruction of the U.S.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

• Ukrainian defense intelligence says it's stripped down a new, drone-launched Russian cruise missile.
• The 'Banderol' missile contains parts from allied countries including the US, Japan, and South Korea, it said.
• The new missile is reported to have been used in attacks on Odesa last month.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has published a breakdown of parts inside a new Russian cruise missile, and claims that many originate from countries including the US, Japan, South Korea, and potentially Australia.

This raises questions about Russia's ongoing ability to get around sanctions imposed on it over its invasion of Ukraine.

Little is known in the West about Russia's S8000 "Banderol" cruise missile, which Ukraine says is made by sanctioned company Kronstadt. Reports emerged in Ukrainian media in late April about its use in a bombardment of the region of Odesa, home to a key Ukrainian port.

Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an influential Ukrainian radiocommunications observer, was among the first to report its use, and speculated that it may be a new type of drone.

It now appears that Ukraine has obtained a version intact enough to be closely examined.

A nimble new missile

Banderol, reportedly meaning "parcel" or "package," has a range of 310 miles and can cruise at speeds of almost 350 mph, according to Ukraine's defense intelligence agency, also known as the GUR.

GUR said it's launched from an Orion drone, and is also being prepped for deployment from a Mi-28N helicopter.

One unique feature, the GUR said, is "its ability to execute tighter turns than other standard Russian cruise missiles" such as the KH-101 or the 3M-14 Kalibr, while still maintaining an effective cruise missile flight trajectory.

It carries a warhead of up to 150kg, per GUR.

Batteries, microchips, and telemetry

Much of its capabilities can be traced back to parts sourced from countries allied with Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence said.

In a detailed breakdown of components, GUR said it identified batteries from a Japanese company just weeks after Japan expanded export controls to stop the country's lithium-ion batteries from reaching Russia.

It also said it found a servo — an electronic device that controls a motor — from a South Korean company in the missile.

Seoul added dozens of items to its export controls list, including dual-use items, in December, although it is unclear if this covers servo motors.

It's also unclear if these parts were already in Russian possession before the expanded export controls were put in place.

In addition, GUR said that up to 20 microchips originating from the US, Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea were found inside.

A telemetry module — or sensor and transmission device — resembling one made in Australia was also found, although the GUR said it could be a Chinese copy.

The companies named did not immediately respond to Business Insider requests for comment, sent outside working hours.

Countries like the US and Australia have sent Ukraine significant amounts of humanitarian or military aid, and have implemented extensive sanctions and export controls against Russia.

However, reports have found that sanctioned items have made their way into the Russian military ecosystem via third parties.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, some parts of the missile, including chips and a jet engine, also appeared to have come from Chinese sources.

Beijing is ostensibly neutral, but has been accused by the US of covertly supplying Russia with extensive dual-use parts and even weaponry.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine called on governments and manufacturers in countries allied to Ukraine to tighten their diligence.

The Trump administration sanctioned three vessels and their owners for providing support to the Houthis – the Iranian regime’s network of terrorist proxies and partners, Fox News Digital has learned. 

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the sanctions Monday, following the Houthis’ efforts to deploy missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and naval mines to attack commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea – activities that "threaten global freedom of navigation and the integrity of international commerce." 

TRUMP TELLS DOD TO MOVE MORE FORCES EQUIPPED FOR COMBAT INTO MIDDLE EAST AS US UPS PRESSURE ON HOUTHIS

"Today’s action underscores our commitment to disrupt the Houthis’ efforts to fund their dangerous and destabilizing attacks in the region," Treasury Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender said Monday, adding that the department will "continue to leverage" its tools and authorities "to target those who seek to enable the Houthis’ ability to exploit the people of Yemen and continue their campaign of violence." 

The State Department designated the Houthis as a specially designated global terrorist in February 2024 and redesignated the group as a foreign terrorist organization in March. 

"Providing material support to the Houthis not only carries acute sanctions risk, but also exposes vessels and crew members to serious safety risk from potential Houthi attacks," a Treasury Department official told Fox News Digital. 

TRUMP ADMIN IMPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST BANK OF YEMEN FOR SUPPORTING HOUTHIS

A Treasury official told Fox News Digital that the Houthis control the strategic Yemen Red Sea ports of Hudaydah, Ras Isa and Al-Salif, and are funneling millions of dollars derived from port revenues and the seizure of refined petroleum products to fund a "reckless attack campaign against U.S. interests and those of our allies in the region." 

The official said the group sells refined petroleum products at "exorbitant prices" on Yemen’s black market, which enables the Houthi operatives to "purchase military materials, create an artificial shortage of essential goods for average Yemenis, and fuels rampant corruption among Houthi leaders." 

Marshall Islands-registered Zaas Shipping & Trading Co. used one of the vessels targeted, the Tulip BZ, to facilitate the delivery of liquid petroleum gas to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa, the Treasury said. It also has been used to transport petroleum products on behalf of Iran. 

Mauritius-registered Bagsak Shipping Inc. is also targeted, and facilitated the delivery of gas oil to Ras Isa using the Panama-flagged vessel, the Maisan. The Maisan also has been involved in the export of Russian crude oil and petroleum products from Russian ports since February 2023, according to a Treasury official. 

AFTER DEBILITATING STRIKES, TRUMP TELLS HOUTHIS: STOP SHOOTING AT US AND ‘WE WILL STOP SHOOTING AT YOU’

And Marshall Islands-registered Great Success Shipping Co. facilitated the delivery of gas oil to Ras Isa using the Panama-flagged vessel, the White Whale. 

The move comes after President Donald Trump officially informed Congress in March that he had directed the Department of Defense to move additional combat forces into the Middle East, as U.S. forces carry out military strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. Those strikes have been conducted in an effort to stop attacks on American forces and commercial ships in the Red Sea.

"I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world," Trump wrote March 28. "We will act to keep Americans safe."

He said the U.S. will continue striking until the group no longer poses a threat to navigation or U.S. personnel.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The strikes have been from Navy ships, Air Force bombers and drones targeting Houthi weapons, leadership and command centers. 

The airstrikes began after renewed Houthi threats against Israeli ships and attacks on U.S. forces, including seven Reaper drones brought down since March 3.

The Houthis began ramping up attacks in the Red Sea after the October 2023 Hamas terror attack on Israel. They’ve claimed responsibility for targeting U.S. warships and have so far avoided hitting Chinese and Saudi ships, raising questions among defense officials about their strategic aims. 

Earlier in April, the Trump administration sanctioned the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) for its financial support of Houthi terrorists.

Fox News' Greg Wehner, Jasmine Baehr, Brie Stimson, Caitlin McFall and Liz Friedan contributed to this report.

• President Donald Trump condemned Russia's deadly air strikes on civilian areas in Ukraine.
• Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "tapping" him along amid fragile peace talks.
• His comments came hours after meeting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Pope Francis' funeral.

President Donald Trump accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of "tapping me along" amid fragile peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

"It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!" Trump added.

Trump's comments came a few hours after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. The two men were photographed sitting across from each other at the funeral of Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy marked their first diplomatic encounter since a tense exchange at the White House two months ago. During the televised disagreement on February 28, Trump told Zelenskyy: "You're either going to make a deal, or we're out."

"We discussed a lot one-on-one," Zelenskyy posted on X. "Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional cease-fire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results."

Late Friday, the president posted on Truth Social: "A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off.'"

Trump hinted that negotiations were nearing a breakthrough, saying "most of the major points are agreed to," though he didn't provide specifics on the terms.

The US president has acknowledged that the peace talks have become "very fragile" and warned that the US will halt its mediation efforts if they fail to reach an agreement.

Ongoing peace negotiations

During his election campaign in 2023, Trump pledged to "settle" the war within the first 24 hours as president. However, negotiations are still ongoing as Ukrainians, Russians, Americans, and Europeans fail to come to a consensus on the terms of the deal.

Trump demanded on April 23 that Ukraine allow Russia the territories it has gained since the invasion. The US also proposed a plan that prevents Ukraine from NATO membership, a rare earths deal, and for Ukraine to accept Russia's annexation of Crimea, per The New York Times.

Ukraine rejected the proposal to accept Russia's annexation, which has become a key issue in the negotiations. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not concede any territory to Russia.

"The United States rejects Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored," Zelenskyy wrote in an April 23 post on X.

On April 24, Russian forces launched deadly missile and drone strikes against Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring 90.

In a rare rebuke against Putin, Trump condemned the strikes in a post on Truth Social, saying he is "not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv."

"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!" Trump wrote, "5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"

On April 1, US senators introduced legislation that would authorize sanctions against Russia if the country refuses to maintain a peace deal and engage in peace talks.

"The sanctions against Russia require tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products," the senators said in a statement. "They are hard-hitting for a reason."

But it is unclear if Trump intends to impose new sanctions.

The Trump administration announced sanctions against the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) on Thursday for its financial support of Houthi terrorists.

Along with the bank, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning key leaders of IBY, like its Chairman of the Board of Directors Kamal Hussain Al Jebry; Executive General Manager Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Deputy General Manager Abdulkader Ali Bazara. By sanctioning IBY, the U.S. hopes to stop Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

"Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis’ efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender said. "Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the Houthis’ ability to secure funds and procure key components for their destabilizing attacks."

Based in Sana’a, Yemen, the IBY is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis and provides the group with access to the bank’s Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network to make international financial transactions, the Treasury said.

TRUMP TAKES SWIPE AT BIDEN, SAYS US WILL SUPPORT SOMALIA AGAINST HOUTHIS

The IBY, for instance, has allegedly aided Houthi businesses and officials to pursue oil on the SWIFT network, while also facilitating attempts by the terrorist group to evade sanctions oversight.

Under Thursday’s sanctions, all property and interests in property of the leaders named, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

TRUMP TOUTS AIRSTRIKE ON HOUTHIS, SHOWING VIDEO: WILL ‘NEVER SINK OUR SHIPS AGAIN’

OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within, or transiting, the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. 

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce spoke about the sanctions during a press briefing Thursday, sending a message to anyone who supports foreign terrorist organizations like the Houthis.

US FORCES CARRY OUT AIRSTRIKE IN SOUTHERN SOMALIA, KILLING 3 AL-SHABAAB TERRORISTS

"The United States is committed to disrupting the Houthi financial networks and banking access as part of our whole-of-government approach to eliminating Iran's threat network," she said. "Moreover, we can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited (CGSTL) is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. Interests. Their actions and Beijing's support of the company, even after our private engagements with them, is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace.

She continued, urging partners of the U.S. to judge the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese companies on their actions, and not just their words.

"Restoring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea is a priority to President Trump," Bruce said. "Beijing should take this priority seriously when considering any future support of CGSTL. The United States will not tolerate anyone providing support to foreign terrorist organizations such as the Houthis." 

The administrators of Garantex, Aleksej Besciokov and Aleksandr Mira Serda, allegedly knew their crypto exchange was used to launder money, according to U.S. prosecutors.

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

An international coalition of law enforcement agencies seized the official website of Garantex, which has previously been sanctioned by the U.S. and E.U. governments.

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

• Renault's former Russian partner said the carmaker might need to pay $1.3 billion to reenter the market.
• Renault exited Russia in 2022, selling its assets for 1 ruble amid Western sanctions.
• Foreign firms face challenges returning to Russia, with possible compensation demands looming.

Renault exited the Russian market in 2022, selling its assets for a single ruble.

Now, the French carmaker may need to pay 112.5 billion rubles — about $1.3 billion — if it seeks to return after the war, its former Russian partner Avtovaz said. The stipulation is a sign that foreign firms looking to return to the market could face high compensation demands.

In the case of Renault, Maxim Sokolov, the CEO of Avtovaz, said the company and the Russian state had invested 112.5 billion rubles in the business since its exit through 2025.

"It is clear that these investments will have to be reimbursed somehow upon return," Sokolov said, according to the TASS state news agency.

US President Donald Trump has signaled a willingness for the US to reconcile with Moscow, spurring recent discussions about a return of Western businesses — such as Renault — to the market.

In 2022, Renault sold its 67.6% stake in Avtovaz to the Russian state with the option to buy back its assets within six years. The automaker took a 2.2-billion-euro write-down from the exit from the market that was its second largest, after France.

A spokesperson for Renault told Business Insider the company didn't "foresee any change for the short term" regarding a return to business in Russia. The company didn't comment on Sokolov's statements.

David Szakonyi, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, told BI that Sokolov's comments about compensation should be taken seriously, even if Russian officials were also posturing.

The exit of foreign businesses created winners at home in Russia, some of whom picked up assets at fire sale prices.

"Freely allowing foreign companies back in is going to diminish their profit streams and make life a lot more competitive, so if that is going to happen, Russia wants some kind of compensation for liberalizing its market," said Szakonyi, who's a specialist in Russia's political economy.

'Even more confident, even more emboldened'

Sokolov's comments echo others in Russia recently signaling tough negotiations for departed companies that wish to return.

Anton Alikhanov, the Russian industry and trade minister, told reporters on Thursday that Russia was "not waiting for anyone with open arms" and that there would be "a price to pay for past decisions."

Szakonyi said Russia was likely to continue with such "cocky rhetoric" amid its rapprochement with the US.

"It feels that it survived just about the worst the West could throw at it and persevered through that adversity and now comes out even more confident, even more emboldened, to make demands on the West and dictate the terms of both political and economic dealmaking going forward," he added.

Three years into the war in Ukraine, 475 foreign companies have left the Russian market completely, according to the Leave Russia database from the Kyiv School of Economics.

The fast-food giant McDonald's and the coffee chain Starbucks were two high-profile brands that left the market, with their assets bought by Russian businesses. McDonald's rebranded to "Tasty and that's it" and Starbucks became Stars Coffee.

Western companies aren't clamoring to go back to Russia

Even though Russia is a large market, analysts have said recently that businesses are likely to be cautious about returning to the country, even if sanctions are lifted.

Russia's wartime economy is facing problems including high inflation, currency volatility, and sky-high interest rates. President Vladimir Putin's ironclad reign presents concerns about the rule of law and safety.

"While Russia says it's open to doing business again, it didn't actually signal any change of tone or policy," said Szakonyi, who added that much of Moscow's rhetoric was probably aimed at the Trump administration's appetite for dealmaking.

Investors are also likely to remain wary after a wave of corporate nationalization and asset seizures in the past few years that redistributed international company wealth to the Russian state and oligarchs.

Szakonyi said Russia had proven that business property rights protections, investor guarantees, and a hospitable business climate were things of the distant past.

"Without them in place, I see no reason why Western companies would risk again with Russia as such a volatile, unpredictable regime," he said. "It has proven that it doesn't care about property rights and that it talks out of both sides of its mouth and is not trustworthy."

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said President Donald Trump wanted productive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but noted that the U.S. had a "range of options" if President Vladimir Putin didn’t come to the negotiating table on a deal that would guarantee peace for Ukraine.

In speaking with The Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report on Vance’s comments, the vice president said President Trump was willing to employ a broad range of options to negotiate a peace deal. 

"If you look at President Trump's approach to this, the range of options is extremely broad, and there are economic tools of leverage," Vance told The Journal. "There are, of course, military tools of leverage. There's a whole host of things that we could do. But fundamentally, I think the President wants to have a productive negotiation, both with Putin and with Zelenskyy." 

He added: "I think there is a deal that is going to come out of this that’s going to shock a lot of people." 

‘NO REASON’ FOR NEW NUKES: TRUMP FLOATS DISARMAMENT TALKS WITH CHINA, RUSSIA

Vance’s comments came a day before the vice president is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich. The discussions will be closely watched by European leaders to gauge where President Trump stands on negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, which is nearing three years. 

President Trump had what he described as a "lengthy" phone call with Putin on Wednesday, which included the Russian leader agreeing to "immediately" begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine. 

RUSSIA CLAIMS TRUMP, PUTIN TALK BROUGHT WORLD FROM ‘BRINK OF APOCALYPSE,’ EU WARNS OF ‘DIRTY TRICKS’

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the two leaders "agreed to work together, very closely." 

"We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful." 

Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation to the Munich Security Conference where the future of Ukraine will be the top item on the agenda.  

Trump has been vague about his specific intentions — other than suggesting that a deal will likely result in Ukraine being forced to cede territory that Russia has seized since it annexed Crimea in 2014.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES FRESH DRONE ATTACK AGAINST UKRAINE SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP-PUTIN PHONE CALL

"The Ukraine war has to end," Trump told reporters Thursday. "Young people are being killed at levels that nobody's seen since World War II. And it's a ridiculous war."

Both Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dashed Ukraine's hopes this week of becoming part of NATO, which the alliance said less than a year ago was "irreversible," or getting back its territory captured by Russia, which currently occupies close to 20%, including Crimea.

"I don't see any way that a country in Russia's position could allow ... them to join NATO," Trump said Thursday. "I don't see that happening."

When asked what he thought Russia should give up to reach a deal, he noted that talks have not yet begun and that "maybe Russia will give up a lot, maybe they won't."

At NATO headquarters, Hegseth reiterated Thursday that "simply pointing out realism like the borders won't be rolled back to what everybody would like them to be in 2014 is not a concession to Vladimir Putin." He said it's a recognition of realities on the ground.

He added, though, that neither Russia nor Ukraine will "get everything that they want" and stressed that "any negotiation that's had will be had with both."

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday reportedly warned that the U.S. wouldn’t rule out tough sanctions or even potential military action against Russia if President Vladimir Putin didn’t come to the negotiating table on a deal that would guarantee peace for Ukraine. 

In speaking with The Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report on Vance’s comments, the vice president said sending U.S. troops to Ukraine was "on the table" if Russia failed to negotiate in good faith. 

Vance said there are "economic tools of leverage [and] there are, of course, military tools of leverage" that the U.S. could use against Putin. 

"I think there is a deal that is going to come out of this that’s going to shock a lot of people," Vance told The Journal. 

‘NO REASON’ FOR NEW NUKES: TRUMP FLOATS DISARMAMENT TALKS WITH CHINA, RUSSIA

Vance’s comments came a day before the vice president is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich. The discussions will be closely watched by European leaders to gauge where President Trump stands on negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, which is nearing three years. 

President Trump had what he described as a "lengthy" phone call with Putin on Wednesday, which included the Russian leader agreeing to "immediately" begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine. 

RUSSIA CLAIMS TRUMP, PUTIN TALK BROUGHT WORLD FROM ‘BRINK OF APOCALYPSE,’ EU WARNS OF ‘DIRTY TRICKS’

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the two leaders "agreed to work together, very closely." 

"We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful." 

Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation to the Munich Security Conference where the future of Ukraine will be the top item on the agenda.  

Trump has been vague about his specific intentions — other than suggesting that a deal will likely result in Ukraine being forced to cede territory that Russia has seized since it annexed Crimea in 2014.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES FRESH DRONE ATTACK AGAINST UKRAINE SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP-PUTIN PHONE CALL

"The Ukraine war has to end," Trump told reporters Thursday. "Young people are being killed at levels that nobody's seen since World War II. And it's a ridiculous war."

Both Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dashed Ukraine's hopes this week of becoming part of NATO, which the alliance said less than a year ago was "irreversible," or getting back its territory captured by Russia, which currently occupies close to 20%, including Crimea.

"I don't see any way that a country in Russia's position could allow ... them to join NATO," Trump said Thursday. "I don't see that happening."

When asked what he thought Russia should give up to reach a deal, he noted that talks have not yet begun and that "maybe Russia will give up a lot, maybe they won't."

At NATO headquarters, Hegseth reiterated Thursday that "simply pointing out realism like the borders won't be rolled back to what everybody would like them to be in 2014 is not a concession to Vladimir Putin." He said it's a recognition of realities on the ground.

He added, though, that neither Russia nor Ukraine will "get everything that they want" and stressed that "any negotiation that's had will be had with both."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for a response to Vance’s comments. 

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

• Russia is using non-sanctioned vessels and rerouting others to keep exporting oil, per maritime data.
• Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet" to try to reduce its oil revenues.
• Russia is now risking sanctions on more ships, economists and energy experts told Business Insider.

Russia is increasingly relying on non-sanctioned vessels to try to maintain its oil exports, but is putting those ships at risk of being sanctioned too.

Russia has relied heavily on a "shadow fleet" consisting of often aging, uninsured vessels to evade international sanctions.

Last month, the US Treasury announced sweeping sanctions on 183 Russian-controlled ships, affecting more than two-thirds of tankers servicing Kozmino, Russia's key oil export hub in the country's Far East.

Russia's shadow fleet has an estimated 1,300 ships, but once a vessel is sanctioned, most ports will likely refuse to unload it, forcing Russia to find a replacement, Petras Katinas, an energy analyst at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told Business Insider.

"Moscow now faces the challenge of acquiring many new tankers to sustain its export flows," Katinas said.

Western countries have rolled out sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet in recent months, in an effort to stifle oil shipments and limit the country's ability to maintain its invasion of Ukraine.

Energy and sanctions analysts told BI that Russia's use of non-sanctioned vessels should come as no surprise, and nor should the risks.

Barbados and Panama delisted more than 100 sanctioned Russian ships last month alone.

Benjamin Hilgenstock, a senior economist at the Kyiv School of Economics, said that Russia risks losing significant oil revenue.

With Russia's largest crude oil export trading at around $70 per barrel — $10 per barrel above the G7's price cap — "every single load of 650-675k barrels means $6-7 million in additional export earnings," Hilgenstock said.

He pointed to the Breeze III oil tanker, which was loaded with 660,000 barrels of oil for the first time last month at the Russian port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler.

Per Kpler's data, tankers are also now operating in the Pacific region, including the Suvretta, which made a port call at Kozmino over the weekend and loaded more than 670,000 barrels of crude oil before heading to China, and the Bhilva, which appeared to be on its way to Kozmino from Singapore on Tuesday.

Hilgenstock said that every sanctioned ship removed from operations means significant costs for its operator, and that Western countries can sanction each new ship that enters the fleet.

"While designations have now reached a quite substantial level — around 275 ships sanctioned in one or more jurisdictions according to our count — the job is not done yet," he said.

Even so, analysts believe Russia will continue to look for ways to export oil, given its importance to the country.

Oil and gas revenues accounted for about 30% of Russia's federal budget in 2024, Alexander Novak, Russia's deputy prime minister, said in Energy Policy last week.

And Russia is gearing up to spend the equivalent of $126.8 billion on national defense this year, 32.5% of its federal budget.

Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute's Centre for Finance and Security, said the G7 and countries close to it "have to remain vigilant and dedicate huge efforts in identifying shadow fleet vessels."

Meanwhile, he said, oil revenue remains Russia's "lifeline" when it comes to its war in Ukraine.

"They will continue investing, hopefully increasingly incurring higher costs, to keep exporting that oil," he added.

• The US, UK, and EU have imposed a flurry of sanctions on Moscow's "shadow fleet."
• The fleet comprises often aging, uninsured ships that aim to evade sanctions on Russian energy exports.
• Some countries have begun delisting sanctioned Russian shadow tankers.

Russia's "shadow fleet" is running out of options to export oil.

The US, UK, and EU have all levied heavy sanctions on Russian shadow fleet vessels in recent months as part of an effort to hamper Russian oil exports and hinder the country's ability to fund its invasion of Ukraine.

In January, the US Treasury announced sweeping sanctions on 183 Russian-controlled and shadow fleet ships — the latter of which are often aging, uninsured vessels Moscow uses to evade international sanctions. The EU and the UK have together sanctioned more than 140 such vessels.

Russia's shadow fleet has used a number of different tactics to try to evade these sanctions and deliver Russian crude oil while obscuring its source, including turning off automatic identification systems (AIS), providing false positions, and carrying out ship-to-ship transfers.

However, the fleet, which has an estimated 1,300 ships, is now facing another problem — a growing number of registries delisting sanctioned vessels. Between Barbados and Panama alone, more than 100 sanctioned Russian ships are being delisted.

"These ships lose their legal right to operate under those jurisdictions, making them less likely to access international ports or insurance services," Petras Katinas, an energy analyst at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told Business Insider.

To enter a port, vessels typically need a valid flag issued by a country's maritime authority, insurance coverage, and a classification society verification, which verifies safety standards.

With more registries cutting ties, Russian shadow tankers are forced to change flags frequently, a practice known as "flag hopping," according to Ami Daniel, CEO of maritime AI firm Windward.

Russia has long used this tactic to evade the G7's $60-per-barrel price cap on its oil, which has been in place since December 2022, with Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, and Malta among the favored flags used by the shadow fleet's vessels.

"This is a Whack-a-Mole game," Daniel said. Russia's shadow fleet vessels will "go to whatever random flag will take them."

Some of the Russian ships previously registered in Barbados have already switched flags to Tanzania and São Tomé and Príncipe to evade sanctions, according to the Equasis marine database.

Nevertheless, the latest sanctions have proven "very effective" in pushing shadow fleet vessels out of commercial operations, Benjamin Hilgenstock, a senior economist at the Kyiv School of Economics, said.

"The buyers of the oil, banks involved in the transactions, and port authorities fear being hit by sanctions themselves if they interact with listed tankers or their cargo," he told BI.

Financial impact

The crackdown on Russia's shadow fleet could have serious financial consequences for Moscow.

Oil exports, alongside gas, are one of the Kremlin's most important sources of cash. Oil and gas revenues accounted for around 30% of Russia's federal budget in 2024, Alexander Novak, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister, wrote in Energy Policy last week.

And Western sanctions already appear to be having an effect.

The Kyiv School of Economics said Russian oil export revenues dropped by $1.1 billion to $14.6 billion in November amid US, UK, and EU countermeasures.

"The unified 'triple pressure' strategy raises the risks and costs of violations, prevents sanctions evasion, and reinforces accountability for shipowners and third countries," it said.

Reuters reported last week that sanctions have also triggered a surge in shipping costs, prompting China and India — two of the largest importers of Russian crude — to suspend March purchases of Russian oil.

While those countries "continue to import substantial amounts of Russian oil and raise revenue for the Kremlin, they are also reacting to the stick of the US secondary sanctions," said Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute's Centre for Finance and Security.

Analysts say the West must now expand the list of sanctioned shadow fleet ships to effectively hit Russia's oil revenues, as Moscow will likely be able to mitigate short-term impacts with its schemes to evade such measures.

Erausquin said Western countries should also look to crack down on third-country intermediaries, brokers, and fraudulent registries that allow substantial amounts of Russian crude to be imported.

"We have to make sure that we're making life harder for Russia's shadow fleet," Erausquin said.

A Delaware judge has sanctioned Sheryl Sandberg, Meta’s former COO and board member, for allegedly deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal. The decision arises from a case Meta shareholders brought against Sandberg and another former Meta board member, Jeff Zients, late last year. The plaintiffs alleged that Sandberg and Zients used personal […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

• Scott Bessent's confirmation hearing this week held a number of clues as to what markets can expect from Trump 2.0.
• The long-time investor and hedge fund exec is Trump's pick to lead the US Treasury.
• Bessent said Trump would "unleash a new economic golden age" during his testimony.

Scott Bessent's nomination hearing gave markets a handful of hints as to what the next four years could look like.

The investor and hedge fund executive sat this week for his confirmation hearing as Donald Trump's pick to lead the US Treasury Department. Economists at Deutsche Bank noted that his remarks held a few important clues for investors.

In his testimony, Bessent said he believed Trump's presidency would help "unleash a new economic golden age," which could include more jobs and increased wealth for Americans. He also suggested the US was "barreling towards an economic crisis" at the end of the year.

If confirmed, Bessent will be in charge of Trump's plan to create the "Greatest Economic Boom," and will oversee the President-elect's plans to cut taxes, deploy tariffs, and curtail the national debt.

Here's what Deutsche Bank economists think were the top takeaways of Bessent's testimony.

1. Nothing has been taken off the table in Trump's tariff plan

Bessent didn't have firm guidance on what Trump's tariff plan could look like. In his testimony, the Treasury Secretary nominee said the tariffs would aim to even out unfair trade practices by other countries, raise federal revenue, and potentially give the US more bargaining power in negotiations. He didn't specify if the tariffs would be slowly implemented over time.

Bessent also pushed back against the idea that Trump's tariff plan was inflationary. Trump levied tariffs during his first term as president without a significant inflation increase, but economists say that his plan this time around is more expansive, explaining the difference in inflation outlooks for the coming years.

"Besesnt's comments on tariffs were notable in that they left everything on the table," the Deutsche Bank economists said.

2. Trump's 2017 tax cuts could be extended

Bessent doubled-down on his support for extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts. If the US doesn't extend the tax cuts, Americans could face $4 trillion tax hike when the 2017 package expires this year, he said.

"We must make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and implement new pro-growth policies to reduce the tax burden on American manufacturers, service workers, and seniors. I have already spoken with several members of this Committee, as well as leaders in the House about the best approach to achieving these important goals together," he added.

3. Bessent could crack down on government spending

Bessent emphasized his resolve to get the national debt and the widening deficit under control. He's been a vocal proponent of reducing the federal debt balance in the past, attributing rising debt levels to the government's "significant spending problem" in his testimony.

The total federal debt balance clocked in at $36.17 trillion as of Friday, according to US Treasury data.

"On the debt limit, Bessent provided reassurance that the US would not default on its debt if he were to be confirmed as Treasury Secretary," Deutsche Bank wrote.

Bessent also appeared "hesitant" to support removing the national debt limit, the Deutsche Bank economists noted, referring to an idea that Trump floated late last year. But, when questioned, Bessent said he would work with Trump to remove the debt limit, if Trump wished to do so

4. Trump will support the Fed's independence

Bessent pushed back against the notion that Trump would try to exert power over the Federal Reserve. Media reports that have suggested Trump would infringe on the independence of the Fed are "highly inaccurate," he added.

Bessent also did not speak about the potential for a "shadow Fed Chair," something he spoke about last year.

"Trump would make his views on monetary policy known, as Bessent noted Senators often do, but he does not support undermining Fed independence," the economists said.

5. Sanctions could get stronger

Bessent voiced support for intensifying sanctions on Russia and Iran. Sanctions on Russia, in particular, have not been "fulsome," Bessent said, suggesting he would tolerate higher oil prices in favor of increasing restrictions on Russia.

"If any officials in the Russian Federation are watching this confirmation hearing, they should know that if I'm confirmed and if President Trump requests it as part of his strategy to end the Ukraine war, I will be 100% on board from taking sanctions up, especially on the Russian oil majors to levels that would bring the Russian Federation to the table," Bessent said during the hearing.

"This statement could indicate that such sanctions may be near-term priorities for the Trump administration," Deutsche added.

• The latest US sanctions on Russia's energy sector impact China and India, altering trade dynamics.
• The sanctions target Russian oil giants and tankers, raising oil prices to a four-month high.
• China and India may seek oil from other regions, while Russia might offer discounts.

The US' latest move to hit Russia's energy revenues is changing up the industry's global trade flows.

On Friday, the US Treasury Department— together with the UK — slapped new sanctions against Russia's key energy sector, including restrictions against oil giants Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas.

The Biden administration also imposed sanctions on 183 tankers associated with Russia's oil trade. Last year, that group of ships transported about one-quarter of Russia's energy exports, mostly crude oil, Goldman Sachs analysts estimated in a Sunday note.

Buyers from China and India — Russia's top oil customers — are likely to be impacted by the new sanctions, changing the world's energy trade dynamics.

Traders in China and India look to the Middle East, Americas

China will be impacted by the latest sanctions because most targeted tankers ship oil to the country, wrote Matthew Wright, the lead freight analyst at analytics firm Kpler, on Friday.

The sanctions, which would impact oil shipping, trading, and insurance, sent prices of the commodity up to a four-month high on Monday.

International benchmark Brent crude oil futures were 1.7% higher at $81.15 a barrel at 2.10 a.m. ET. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures were up 1.9% at $78 a barrel.

Both Brent and WTI oil futures are up 8% this year to date.

Traders told Reuters that China and India will be forced by the new sanctions to seek non-sanctioned oil from the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

A Singapore-based trader told the news agency the sanctioned tankers shipped close to 900,000 barrels per day of Russian crude oil to China over the past 12 months and that these exports are going to "drop off a cliff."

Even before this round of sanctions, oil traders in China and India have been anticipating higher curbs on Russian oil. They have increased crude oil purchases from the Middle East and the Atlantic Basin, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

These latest developments illustrate the fast-changing pace of the world's energy flow since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered sweeping sanctions against the energy giant.

They also come just days before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The incoming American leader has pledged to lift energy output and boost the US' energy exports.

Russia is a top supplier of crude oil to both China and India.

Not a 'game-changer'

The incoming US administration's stance on the energy sector is one reason why recent oil price gains may not continue, wrote Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho's head of macro research for Asia, excluding Japan.

Varathan said in a Monday note that while the latest oil sanctions against Russia are boosting the market, they are not a game-changer.

Not only is the potential of higher US supply expected to hold up the market, but demand from China — the world's second-largest economy — has also slowed amid prolonged economic malaise.

Goldman Sachs analysts also cited the high spare capacity in oil as a factor that could weigh on prices.

Meanwhile, Russia is likely to pull out countermeasures to the US' latest sanctions package.

"Russian oil can discount to incentivize continued shipping by a dynamic shadow fleet and continued purchases by price-sensitive buyers in new or existing destination countries, with both the ships and buyers being less sensitive to Western sanctions," Goldman Sachs analysts wrote.

• The US is cracking down on Russia's oil industry, with broader sanctions introduced on Friday.
• The US and UK are blocking two Russian energy giants and other entities in the nation's oil trade.
• Russia's energy revenue is expected to account for more than a quarter of the nation's budget in 2025.

The US is tightening the screws on one of the key pillars of Russia's wartime economy: its energy business.

The US said it would join the United Kingdom in imposing wider-sweeping sanctions against Russia's oil industry on Friday, which include blocking Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, two of Russia's largest oil producers.

Sanctions will also be imposed on the producers' subsidiaries, as well as 183 tankers associated with Russia's oil trade, according to a statement from the Treasury Department. Some of the sanctioned tankers were part of Russia's shadow fleet, a group of ships Russia is known to rely on to trade oil under the radar.

The new sanctions also targeted several "opaque traders" involved in Russia's oil business, as well as oilfield service providers and prominent executives at Russian energy companies, the statement added.

"The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia's key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. "With today's actions, we are ratcheting up the sanctions risk associated with Russia's oil trade, including shipping and financial facilitation in support of Russia's oil exports," she later added.

Western nations have targeted Russia's energy trade since the early days of the Ukraine war, given that Russia's energy revenue makes up a big chunk of the nation's war budget. Oil and gas revenue is expected to account for around 27% of Russia's federal revenue in 2025, according to a draft budget viewed by Reuters in September.

Consequences from existing measures, like the ban and $60 price cap on Russian oil, have already started to hit Moscow's cash flow. Russia's total energy revenue plummeted by nearly a quarter in 2023, according to data from Russia's finance ministry.

The nation's oil and gas revenue is also expected to decline through 2027, the draft budget showed.

Economists share a grim outlook for Russia's economy, with some experts expecting the nation to soon undergo a stagnation that could mirror the decline of the Soviet Union. The nation is now likely feeling the full impact of international sanctions, which could produce enough strain to bring an end to the war this year, according to one Washington, D.C.-based think-tank.

Three Russian citizens were charged with money laundering for their role in operating Blender.io and Sinbad.io crypto mixing services.

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.