# PayoutsKing

> As of 2026-06-23, PayoutsKing is a Russia-nexus threat actor tracked by Threadlinqs Intelligence across 4 threats spanning malware, ransomware. Also known as Paykng Crew, BlackBasta Successor, Storm-2189. ATT&CK coverage spans 76 techniques across 15 tactics in 4 of 4 tracked threats. Most-observed techniques: T1027 (Obfuscated Files or Information), T1036.005 (Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location), T1059.001 (PowerShell).

- **Nation:** Russia
- **Tracked threats:** 4
- **Categories:** MALWARE, RANSOMWARE
- **Also known as:** Paykng Crew, BlackBasta Successor, Storm-2189
- **As of:** 2026-06-23

## ATT&CK techniques observed

76 techniques observed across 4 of 4 tracked threats. Tactics: Initial Access (10), Discovery (8), Execution (8), Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) (7), Command and Control (6), Collection (5).

- [T1027](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1027) Obfuscated Files or Information — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1036.005](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1036.005) Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1059.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059.001) PowerShell — Execution — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1071.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1071.001) Web Protocols — Command and Control — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1204.002](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1204.002) User Execution: Malicious File — Execution — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1486](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1486) Data Encrypted for Impact — Impact — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1685](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1685) Disable or Modify Tools — Defense Impairment — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1003.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1003.001) LSASS Memory — Credential Access — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1021.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1021.001) Remote Desktop Protocol — Lateral Movement — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1021.002](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1021.002) SMB/Windows Admin Shares — Lateral Movement — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1059.003](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059.003) Windows Command Shell — Execution — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1070.004](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1070.004) File Deletion — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1082](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1082) System Information Discovery — Discovery — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1105](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1105) Ingress Tool Transfer — Command and Control — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1489](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1489) Service Stop — Impact — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats

## Tracked threats

- [Edgecution: Payouts King Initial Access Broker Deploys Malicious Microsoft Edge Extension with Embedded Python Backdoor](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0917) — HIGH
- [Payouts King Ransomware Uses QEMU Virtual Machines to Bypass EDR and Endpoint Security Controls](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0390) — HIGH
- [QEMU Virtualization Abuse for PayoutsKing Ransomware Delivery & Evasion](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0379) — HIGH
- [Payouts King Ransomware — BlackBasta Successor Operation Targeting US Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Construction Sectors](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0378) — HIGH

## Full data

Infrastructure, IOC values and detection queries (Splunk SPL / Microsoft KQL / Sigma) require the Threadlinqs MCP server (Purple tier): https://intel.threadlinqs.com/mcp

Canonical: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/PayoutsKing