ChainCatcher report: Russian OTC broker Aleksandr Khinkis (Aleks) is suspected of assisting a ransomware group in money laundering since July 2025, transferring over $4.7 million through a single cryptocurrency exchange account, involving three ransom payments totaling 796 BTC. Investigators, posing as potential clients on Telegram, successfully obtained his exchange deposit address (0xa756...0706e). On-chain forensic analysis shows that the funds were bridged from Bitcoin to the Avalanche network, with 75 transfers flowing into this address. In October 2025, a ransom payment of 164 BTC—approximately $3.8 million—was exchanged via an instant exchange and moved to the Tron network; seven associated Tron addresses were blacklisted by Tether in November 2025.
Russian OTC broker allegedly laundered $4.7 million in ransomware proceeds through crypto exchanges
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Summary
On-chain news reveals that Russian OTC broker Aleksandr Khinkis is under investigation for allegedly laundering $4.7 million in ransomware proceeds since July 2025. Investigators obtained his deposit address (0xa756...0706e) through communication with him on Telegram. Funds were transferred via a Bitcoin cross-chain bridge to Avalanche, with 75 transactions recorded. A 164 BTC ransom, valued at $3.8 million, was converted on a crypto exchange platform reported in the news and sent to the Tron network. Seven Tron addresses involved were blacklisted by Tether in November 2025.
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