Hackers Offer to Sell Belarus President Lukashenko’s Passport as NFT

Anti-government hackers have attempted to sell what they say is an NFT of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko’s passport. The members of the ‘Belarusian Cyber Partisans’ collective claim to have obtained the passport data of all of the country’s citizens. Cyber Guerrillas From Belarus Try to List NFT Passport Collection on Opensea A hacking group known … Read more

Russian PM Says Digital Assets Are ‘Safe Alternative’ in Foreign Trade, Urges for Ruble Payments

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has praised digital assets as a payment instrument that could strengthen Russia’s financial independence. The top government official also called for increasing the use of the ruble for international settlements. Head of Russian Government Sees Digital Assets as Tool Ensuring ‘Uninterrupted Payments’ Digital assets can become an alternative to traditional … Read more

Ukraine Blocks Crypto Wallet Used to Raise Funds for Russian Forces

The law enforcement and counter-intelligence agency of Ukraine has managed to seize the funds in a cryptocurrency wallet used to finance the Russian military campaign in the country. Officials in Kyiv claim that money collected through the wallet has been spent on military equipment for the pro-Russian separatist forces in the east. Ukraine Seizes Crypto … Read more

Leading Japanese Online Broker SBI to Pull Out of Russia’s Crypto Mining Sector

SBI Holdings, the largest online brokerage in Japan, is shutting down its crypto mining business in the Russian Federation. Amid mounting uncertainty over the future of such investments due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as decreased mining profits, the financial firm said it plans to sell its equipment and withdraw. Japan’s SBI … Read more

Alleged BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik in US Custody After Immediate Extradition From Greece

Russian IT specialist Alexander Vinnik, accused of owning and running the infamous crypto exchange BTC-e, has been handed over to the U.S. This week, Greek authorities proceeded with the extradition, after his return from France, despite Vinnik’s defense protesting the move and calling the case a “judicial, diplomatic and humanitarian scandal.” Vinnik Appears in San … Read more

Vinnik to Be ‘Hostage’ in US Amid Russia’s War in Ukraine, Greek Lawyer Says

If extradited to the United States, crypto exchange BTC-e’s alleged operator Alexander Vinnik will become a “hostage” due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to his Greek lawyer. France is likely to send the Russian back to Greece soon and Zoe Konstantopoulou is trying to prevent his subsequent transfer to U.S. custody. Alexander Vinnik’s … Read more

Chainalysis Report Says $2.2 Million in Crypto Has Been Sent to Pro-Russian Groups in Ukraine

According to a report stemming from the blockchain intelligence company Chainalysis, the firm identified 54 pro-Russian groups that have “collectively received over $2.2 million worth of cryptocurrency.” The paramilitary groups in Ukraine primarily received bitcoin and ether donations but also got tether, litecoin and dogecoin as well, the Chainalysis study details. $2.2 Million in Crypto … Read more

Security Service of Ukraine Shuts Down Crypto Mining Farm Near Front Line in Kharkiv

Ukraine’s main law enforcement agency has busted an illegal facility mining cryptocurrencies in the Kharkiv region. The operators of the crypto farm have been minting coins using large amounts of stolen electricity, threatening energy supply to critical infrastructure, the agency said. Illegal Mining Farm Discovered in War-Torn Kharkiv Region Officers from the Security Service of … Read more

US Asks Japan to Pressure Crypto Exchanges, Miners Working With Russia, Report Unveils

U.S. diplomats have reportedly called on authorities in Tokyo to increase pressure on Japanese crypto exchanges and miners to sever links to Russia. The request was made to deepen Moscow’s financial isolation amid the ongoing Russian assault on Ukraine. Washington Wants Japan’s Crypto Companies to Cut Ties, Further Isolate Russia The United States has urged … Read more

Demand for Hardware Crypto Wallets Increases Amid Currency Restrictions in Russia

Hardware wallets designed to securely store cryptocurrency have seen a several-fold increase this spring in Russia, on the backdrop of currency restrictions introduced amid foreign sanctions. Ledger and Tangem have been the most popular products on the market, a media report revealed. Russians Buy More Hardware Crypto Wallets, Market Players Say Russian crypto users have … Read more