On March 12, 2024, Roman Sterlingov was convicted of money laundering and other charges related to his operation of Bitcoin Fog, a crypto-mixing service that handled $400 million in Bitcoin.

The U.S. Department of Justice used blockchain analysis to trace the movement of 1.2 million Bitcoin through Bitcoin Fog, linking the majority to illegal activities on darknet marketplaces.

Facing up to 20 years in prison, Sterlingov, who holds dual Russian-Swedish nationality, disputes the conviction and plans to appeal, challenging the DOJ's evidence and tracing methods.

The case underscores the government's growing capability to trace blockchain transactions and the ongoing legal debate over the sufficiency and reliability of such evidence in cryptocurrency-related crimes.

The IRS and DOJ have issued warnings about the risks of using crypto mixers like Bitcoin Fog for laundering purposes, citing successful international collaborations in apprehending and prosecuting individuals involved in such operations.