The most prominent cryptocurrency fraudster from Russia and the head of a fake cryptocurrency exchange in the United States may be exchanged for two of their fellow citizens

The lawyer of Alexander Vinnik, accused of laundering $ 9 billion through the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange, is asking the Russian government to start negotiations with the United States on a prisoner exchange. Back in July, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on the Russian authorities to release American citizens arrested in Russia. These are American basketball player Brittney Griner, detained for illegal drug possession, and former Marine Paul Whelan, convicted of espionage.

The lawyer sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asking him to start negotiations with Washington on the prisoner exchange. The ministry refused to comment, but the Russian embassy in Washington expressed its readiness to provide Vynnyk with the necessary legal assistance. «At the moment, the only thing that can save Oleksandr is successful negotiations between Russia and the US authorities,» the lawyer said in a statement.

As a reminder, Vynnyk was arrested in 2017 in Greece on charges of money laundering and running the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. In early 2020, the Russian was extradited from Greece to France, where he was sentenced to five years in prison. Later, Vinnik was sent back to Greece and extradited to the United States in early August. As we reported earlier, the trial is scheduled for September 27. If found guilty, Vinnik faces 55 years in prison. However, the Russian continues to deny all charges against him.