ChipMixer
{{Short description|Cryptocurrency laundering service}}
{{Infobox website
| name = ChipMixer
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| screenshot = Chip_Mixer_Seized.png
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| screenshot_alt = Seizure Banner Placed on ChipMixer
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| type = Cryptocurrency tumbler
| language = English
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| country_of_origin = Vietnam
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| commercial = Yes
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| launch_date = 2017
| current_status = Defunct
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ChipMixer was a cryptocurrency laundering service operated out of Vietnam from servers run in Germany.[https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-investigation-leads-takedown-darknet-cryptocurrency-mixer-processed-over-3 Justice Department Investigation Leads to Takedown of Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer that Processed Over $3 Billion of Unlawful Transactions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316170832/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-investigation-leads-takedown-darknet-cryptocurrency-mixer-processed-over-3 |date=2023-03-16 }}, US Department of Justice, 15.3.2023 The service was allegedly used to launder more than three billion dollars over a period of six years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/intl-operation-takes-down-chipmixer-money-laundering-service/ar-AA18HnDt|title=Int'l operation takes down ChipMixer money laundering service|website=MSN |agency=UPI|date=March 16, 2023}}
Service
The service allowed customers to obfuscate the origin of cryptocurrency transactions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/german-investigators-take-crypto-money-laundering-site|title=German investigators take down crypto money laundering site|date=March 15, 2023|website=Associated Press|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316055849/https://www.foxnews.com/world/german-investigators-take-crypto-money-laundering-site|url-status=live}} This anonymization was useful for criminals who used the service when purchasing illicit goods from darknet markets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/chipmixer-is-shut-down-for-allegedly-laundering-3-billion-in-crypto-325a55ee|title=ChipMixer Is Shut Down for Allegedly Laundering $3 Billion in Crypto|first=Mengqi|last=Sun|website=WSJ|access-date=2023-03-16|archive-date=2023-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316143417/https://www.wsj.com/articles/chipmixer-is-shut-down-for-allegedly-laundering-3-billion-in-crypto-325a55ee|url-status=live}} Additionally, criminals needing to hide the origins of ransomware payouts used the site.
Seizure
The website and backend servers were seized by the Bundespolizei, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Europol on March 15, 2023. The German police seized 46 million dollars in cryptocurrency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chipmixer-platform-seized-for-laundering-ransomware-payments-drug-sales/|title=ChipMixer platform seized for laundering ransomware payments, drug sales|website=BleepingComputer|date=March 15, 2023}}