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U.S. Sanctions Virtual Currency Mixer Tied to North Korea

Korean People's Army soldiers leave after paying their respects before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il as part of celebrations marking the birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, known as the 'Day of the Shining Star', on Mansu hill in Pyongyang on Feb. 16, 2019.

Korean People's Army soldiers leave after paying their respects before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il as part of celebrations marking the birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, known as the 'Day of the Shining Star', on Mansu hill in Pyongyang on Feb. 16, 2019.

Photographer: Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images

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The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday sanctioned Blender.io, a virtual currency mixer it said was tied to North Korea’s hacking and money laundering activities. 

The action marks the first time Treasury has sanctioned a so-called “mixer,” which is used to hide the origin of illicit funds.