US May Consider Alexander Vinnik for Prisoner Exchange With Russia, Lawyer Says

Crypto exchange BTC-e’s alleged operator Alexander Vinnik may be a candidate for prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. That’s according to a statement by one of his lawyers for Russian media. The latest court hearing in Vinnik’s case has been postponed. Russian Accused of Laundering Billions Through Crypto May Return Home, According to … Read more

Russian Founders of Defi Platform Forsage Indicted in $340 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme

Four Russians have been charged in the U.S. with operating a crypto pyramid and Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of millions of dollars. If convicted, they would face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the purportedly decentralized finance (defi) platform Forsage. Forsage Founders Charged With Running Cryptocurrency Pyramid A … Read more

Crypto Groups on Russian Social Media Hit by Bots Discrediting Bitcoin

Social media groups devoted to cryptocurrencies in Russia have been attacked by bots in what looks like a campaign against bitcoin and the like. Their comments on Russia’s largest social media platform are triggered by certain keywords like crypto and blockchain, members of the community have noticed. Bots Flood Vkontakte Groups With Comments Against Cryptocurrency … Read more

Briton Wanted by US for Advising North Korea on Crypto Arrested in Russia

A British national wanted with a red notice from Interpol for consulting North Korea on cryptocurrencies has been detained in Moscow. U.S. authorities allege that the man helped the regime in Pyongyang to bypass sanctions using digital assets. U.K. Citizen Sought by U.S. for Violating North Korea Sanctions Apprehended in a Moscow Hostel The Russian … Read more

Russia’s Yandex Search Engine Adds Cryptocurrencies to Its Converter

Yandex, the largest Russian search engine, has updated its currency converter, adding cryptocurrencies. The widget now shows the rates of these coins in a number of fiat currencies, with plans to introduce crypto-to-crypto pairs in the future as well. Yandex Integrates Leading Cryptocurrencies Into Its Currency Converter Users of Russia’s leading search engine, Yandex, can … Read more

Bank of Russia to Start Testing Digital Ruble With Real Users on April 1

The Central Bank of Russia plans to launch test operations with digital ruble transactions between real customers at the beginning of April. More than a dozen banks will join the upcoming stage of the pilot project, a high-ranking representative of the bank announced to Russian media. Russia’s Monetary Authority to Trial Actual Settlements With Digital … Read more

Bill Allows Russian Financial Platforms to Operate Blockchains, Issue Digital Assets

A draft law filed in the Russian parliament permits operators of platforms providing financial services to also run blockchain platforms. The legislation will allow them to combine their regular activities in the traditional financial market with issuing digital assets. New Law Opens Door to Blockchain Space for Russian Financial Service Providers The State Duma, the … Read more

Court to Try 2 Russians for Stealing 86 Bitcoins From Crypto Miner

Two residents of the Russian city of Tomsk will be tried for “large-scale robbery” involving the theft of cryptocurrency worth millions of rubles from a local miner. The digital coins were stolen from the owner at gunpoint, authorities said, adding that both criminals are now in custody. Thieves Face Trial in Russia for Armed Robbery … Read more

At Least 1,000 Lawsuits Filed Against Crypto Miners in Russia’s Irkutsk Region

Authorities in the Russian region of Irkutsk have so far filed 1,000 lawsuits against what they call “gray” miners, or people minting coins in their homes. In over half of these cases, courts have ordered the defendants to compensate the operators of the distribution networks. Hundreds of Crypto Miners Sued in Irkutsk for Extracting Digital … Read more

Russia Releases Bitzlato Co-Founder Anton Shkurenko After Questioning

Russian authorities have released the recently arrested co-founder of crypto exchange Bitzlato, said to have processed illicit funds worth millions of U.S. dollars. Anton Shkurenko, who was questioned in Moscow, denies the French charges against him that became the reason for his brief detention. Shkurenko Says Potential Case Against Him in Russia Won’t Interfere With … Read more