Cao de Benos Released Without Conditions
Spanish law enforcement arrested a man accused by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) of conspiring with Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith to assist North Korea in evading sanctions. The man, Alejandro Cao de Benos, was apprehended in Barcelona while preparing to leave for Madrid using a false identity. The DOJ had previously accused Cao de Benos, founder of the Korea Friendship Association, of requesting Griffith’s expertise in breaking U.S. sanctions. Griffith is currently serving a sentence for his involvement in the alleged conspiracy.
After his arrest, Cao de Benos appeared before a Spanish judge who released him without conditions. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he asserted his innocence and claimed that there would be no extradition since the U.S. accusation is nonexistent in Spain. However, an unnamed Spanish judicial source stated that the U.S. must formalize the process for extradition. If found guilty, Cao de Benos could face up to 20 years in prison.
Hot Take: Spanish Arrested Man Denies Accusations of Conspiracy with Ethereum Developer
Alejandro Cao de Benos, the man arrested by Spanish law enforcement for allegedly conspiring with Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith to help North Korea evade sanctions, has been released without conditions. Cao de Benos denies the allegations, dismissing the U.S. accusation as non-existent in Spain. While the U.S. must formalize the extradition process, Cao de Benos could potentially face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. The case highlights the international repercussions of cryptocurrency-related activities and the efforts of law enforcement to combat illicit uses of digital assets.
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