OFAC Blacklists Crypto Addresses of Alleged Darknet Market Admin

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has recently taken action against an individual accused of running a darknet marketplace by blacklisting a number of cryptocurrency addresses. The OFAC announced in a press release that it is sanctioning Iranian national Behrouz Parasad and his Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) addresses due to his alleged role as the sole administrator of Nemesis, a now-defunct darknet marketplace.

Acting Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith stated, "As the administrator of the Nemesis darknet marketplace, Parsarad sought to build – and continues to try to re-establish – a safe haven to facilitate the production, sale, and shipment of illegal narcotics like fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Treasury, in partnership with U.S. law enforcement, will use all available tools to dismantle these darknet marketplaces and hold accountable the individuals who oversee them."

Nemesis, which the OFAC reports facilitated nearly $30 million worth of drug sales between 2021 and 2024, was shut down last year following an international law enforcement operation. The sanctions imposed by the OFAC mean that all property and interests in property in the U.S. belonging to Parasad will be reported to the OFAC and subsequently blocked. Additionally, the sanctioned individual will be denied specific financial services.

According to a recent memo from the OFAC, a total of 49 Bitcoin and Monero addresses were sanctioned by the U.S. government. This action serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by authorities to combat the use of cryptocurrencies in illicit activities and to hold accountable those responsible for operating darknet marketplaces.