Yigit Taha OZTURK 
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced a groundbreaking conviction involving cryptocurrency transactions. A resident of the Mirninsky region in the Yakutia Republic has been sentenced to 7 years in a strict regime prison for providing financial support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU) through cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency and State Treason
The defendant, born in 1988 and employed by a diamond mining company, was convicted under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code for state treason. The individual was found guilty of using social media to establish contact with a terrorist organization and conducting cryptocurrency transfers to fund Ukrainian military operations.
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According to the FSB, the defendant received specific instructions from Ukrainian coordinators to carry out crypto wallet transfers that aimed to support espionage and sabotage activities against Russia’s security interests. This case is Russia’s first legal precedent involving the use of cryptocurrency in national security threats.
Russia’s Crackdown on Cryptocurrency
This conviction is part of Russia’s broader efforts to enforce stricter regulations on cryptocurrency. Authorities are currently working to liquidate 1,032 Bitcoin (valued at approximately $100 million) confiscated from Marat Tambiev, a former investigator of the Russian Investigative Committee.
Meanwhile, the Chechen government has introduced severe measures against unauthorized cryptocurrency mining, equating illegal miners with terrorists.
A Changing Crypto Landscape in Russia
Russia is undergoing significant regulatory changes in its cryptocurrency market. The government has announced a 6-year mining ban from 2025 to 2031, affecting ten regions, including strategic areas like Chechnya and Donetsk.
Additionally, the Central Bank of Russia is developing an AI-based tool to combat illegal cryptocurrency activities. These moves, alongside the recent conviction, underline Russia’s determination to establish a strict framework for cryptocurrency oversight while imposing severe penalties for violations tied to national security.
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