Dutch Authorities have arrested a software developer for crypto-mixing service Tornado Cash this week. The Block has confirmed that the arrested developer is Alexey Pertsev.
The Block spoke with the wife of Alexey Pertsev, Ksenia Malik, on Thursday, who confirmed her husband’s arrest. Malik and Pertsev married in September 2021. She said that the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) arrested Pertsev on Aug. 10.
The FIOD announced thursday that the suspect, now confirmed as Pertsev, suspected of involvement in concealing criminal financial flows and facilitating money laundering through Tornado Cash.
Tornado Cash’s discord server was also deleted soon after news broke of the developer’s arrest. The service also confirmed their website is also offline via Telegram
“Due to the recent blacklisting of our website by the Treasury Department of the United States. Most people will experience difficulties in accessing our website because it has been taken down and all access has been shut.”
Tornado Cash Statement.
Tornado Cash has gained notoriety for hackers using the site to hide their tracks after commiting crypto-theft. It was even brought to light that over $455 million was laundered on the network by the Lazarus Group. North Korea’s presence on the platform was increasingly high. The latest set of developments could certainly impact hackers and the future of Tornado Cash.
FIOD has yet to comment on the comments from Malik confirming the suspect’s identity. Stay tuned for more updates on the ongoing Tornado Cash investigation.