US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto
Published . Updated .
US sanctions target two Russians accused of converting $5.5 million in crypto for North Korean networks, linking IT worker wages to weapons funding.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust+6.5% 30d
iShares Bitcoin Trust: it follows bitcoin. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- USO United States Oil Fund+7.3% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “russian” (oil) in this story.
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF-2.9% 30d
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “weapons” (defense) in this story.
- EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF-9.1% 30d
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF holds stocks listed in South Korea, which this story is about (“korea”).
- COIN Coinbase Global-6.6% 30d
Coinbase Global (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- MSTR Strategy+6.0% 30d
Strategy (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- MARA MARA Holdings-9.9% 8d
MARA Holdings (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- RIOT Riot Platforms-33.8% 30d
Riot Platforms (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBIT | -0.20% | -2.02% | base | -1.07% | after close | after close | after close |
| USO | -2.52% | -0.26% | base | +0.44% | after close | after close | after close |
| ITA | -1.57% | -0.30% | base | +3.17% | after close | after close | after close |
| EWYNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COIN | +4.15% | -1.75% | base | -2.63% | after close | after close | after close |
| MSTRNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MARANo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RIOTNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Market Call
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US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto Bitcoin Foundation
Source: Bitcoin Foundation
Strategy (MSTR) since “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” compared with the market
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase Global (COIN) | that day | -2.63% | still updating |
| Coinbase Global (COIN) | three days earlier | -1.75% | final price |
| Coinbase Global (COIN) | five days earlier | +4.15% | final price |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) | that day | -1.07% | still updating |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) | three days earlier | -2.02% | final price |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) | five days earlier | -0.20% | final price |
| ITA | that day | +3.17% | still updating |
| ITA | three days earlier | -0.30% | final price |
| ITA | five days earlier | -1.57% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | that day | +0.44% | still updating |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | -0.26% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -2.52% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Coinbase Global (COIN) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 55 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Gilbert Cisneros sold Coinbase Global (COIN), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 18 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 10 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold Coinbase Global (COIN), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 10 Aug 2026. That is 80 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Strategy (MSTR), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 10 Aug 2026. That is 80 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Strategy (MSTR)
Companies tied to this story
- MSTR Strategy
For “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” Strategy (MSTR) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Strategy (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- MARA MARA Holdings
In “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” MARA Holdings (MARA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: MARA Holdings (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- RIOT Riot Platforms
In “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” Riot Platforms (RIOT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Riot Platforms (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF
For “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares Bitcoin Trust: it follows bitcoin. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- USO United States Oil Fund
For “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “russian” (oil) in this story
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund
For “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto,” United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “russian” (natural gas) in this story
- EWY Ishares Msci South Korea Etf
Ishares Msci South Korea Etf (EWY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 29 Oct 2026 story “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto.” Reason on file: iShares MSCI South Korea ETF holds stocks listed in South Korea, which this story is about (“korea”)
- COIN Coinbase Global
Coinbase Global (COIN) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 29 Oct 2026 story “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto.” Reason on file: Coinbase Global (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
How “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto” reaches Strategy (MSTR)
The 29 Oct 2026 story “US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto” names Strategy (MSTR) because of this story.
The link for Strategy (MSTR) is this: Strategy (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
Also listed, MARA Holdings (MARA): MARA Holdings (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
Dates in the story, and the Strategy (MSTR) price range
MARA traded between 10.16 and 12.23 across 7 sessions. The latest close on file is 10.37. MSTR traded between 133.65 and 170.09 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 145.18. RIOT traded between 11.79 and 21.08 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 14.48.
How strong the case is around Strategy (MSTR)
46 out of 100Price not final
“US Sanctions Hit Russians Over $5.5M in North Korea Crypto” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies. The price is not final yet.