The United States has removed economic sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency firm accused of assisting North Korean hackers in laundering stolen digital assets.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced that sanctions against Tornado Cash, initially imposed for allegedly aiding hacking groups linked to North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau—including the notorious Lazarus Group—have been revoked.
Tornado Cash, known as a cryptocurrency “mixer,” provided services that complicated tracking stolen cryptocurrency transactions. However, following a lawsuit filed by users challenging these sanctions, a U.S. court ordered their removal last November.
The Treasury Department noted its decision to lift the sanctions was influenced by the need to adapt to “evolving technology and legal environments.” It emphasized that the United States remains firmly committed to enforcing sanctions against North Korea, aiming to prevent the regime from funding its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
