Cryptocurrency hacker who stole more than $ 20 million in bitcoins will be imprisoned for 20 years

According to the US Department of Justice, a cryptocurrency hacker has been sentenced to 20 years in prison — all because of the IT specialist’s involvement in NetWalker ransomware attacks.

As it became known, Sebastian Vachon-Desjardins managed to steal about $ 21.5 million in bitcoins. With the help of ransomware, using encryption, the hacker stole information from Windows-based systems and demanded that victims pay in BTC for the return of information. The victims of the fraudster were government agencies, law enforcement agencies and educational institutions, such as colleges, universities and schools.

«The sentence imposed on Sebastian Vachon-Desjardins demonstrates that all cryptocurrency hackers will face significant consequences and be held accountable for their crimes sooner or later,» said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polit.

However, so far, most cryptocurrency criminals have not been found or punished. Perhaps a new educational program from the cryptocurrency exchange Binance will help law enforcement to search for cybercriminals. «We work hand-in-hand with law enforcement agencies to track suspicious accounts and transactions, contributing to the fight against terrorist financing, child pornography, and other crimes,» said Tigran Ghambaryan, Head of Intelligence and Investigations at Binance.