Russian cryptocurrency fraudster imprisoned in the US may be exchanged

Russian Alexander Vinnik, accused of laundering at least $ 9 billion through the bitcoin exchange BTC-e, may be a candidate for another prisoner exchange between the terrorist state and the United States. This was stated by his lawyer David Rizk. The preliminary court hearing in the crypto fraudster’s case, which was scheduled for February 18, was postponed until February 24.

The U.S. authorities suspect that Vinnik collaborated with Russian intelligence. According to the investigation, the funds that passed through BTC-e could have financed Russian security forces. In this context, it is interesting that arms dealer Viktor Bout tried to lobby for V ynnyk’s release.

The BTC-e exchange operated from 2011 to 2017. Its activities were suspended immediately after Vynnyk’s arrest. Soon after, the crypto exchange was relaunched under the name Wex. It was taken over by a Singaporean company owned by another Russian, Dmitry Vasiliev. on May 30, 2022, he was arrested in Croatia on suspicion of fraud.

As a reminder, Vinnik 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. Vinnik is currently in a US prison, facing 55 years behind bars. However, the Russian continues to deny all charges against him.