The Russia military intelligence (GRU) is backed by Kremlin-based hackers. A new report has uncovered that these hackers are using cryptocurrencies to fund their activities globally. Cryptocurrencies have provided a way to users across the globe to carry out transactions without leaving traces. The United States Department of Justice unveiled this information on 4th October 2018.

The department has recently indicted seven GRU officials who were attempting to gain illegal access to websites, computers and data systems of US agencies, companies, international organizations, and citizens.

It is believed that Bitcoin and other digital currencies are used by Russian intelligence to cover their tracks while simultaneously attacking the World Anti-Doping Agency and other entities in the United States.

The United States, the UK, and the Netherlands have revealed that these GRU agents belong to a wider network. The three countries are holding Moscow responsible for the large-scale hack attacks on various bodies and individuals.

The U.S. authorities have said that seven GRU agents received funding through digital currencies such as Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining was also used to raise funds for their activities.

“The conspirators used several dedicated email accounts to track basic bitcoin transaction information and to facilitate bitcoin payments to vendors. One of these dedicated accounts received hundreds of bitcoin payment requests from approximately 100 different email accounts.” – The United States Department of Justice.

As most of these attacks were centered around Pennsylvania, the Justice Department filed the indictment in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania. As per the report, the hackers received cryptocurrency funding to develop the infrastructure and a fake website of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“In those instances where conspirators purchased hacking infrastructure, payments were made using a complex web of transactions involving operational accounts in fictitious names and typically utilized cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, to further mask their identities and conduct.”

At the time this was taking place, WADA, based out of Canada was under the process of investigating allegations of the doping program backed by the state for Russian athletes. Several of these investigators were United States citizens.

Based on the information provided in the indictment, the hackers also targeted FIFA, the global football body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Court of Arbitration of Sport (TAS/ CAS).

In July 2018, the Department of Justice also said that Russian spies had received cryptocurrencies for payment to meddle with the 2016 presidential election.