Cryptocurrency-related criminal cases in Russia rose by 40% in 2021

In Russia last year, RTM Group researchers counted 1,531 court cases related to cryptocurrencies, exchanges and mining. «Известия» reports this.

Most of the cases (954) in 2021 were initiated under criminal articles. This figure is up 40% from the previous year.

Cryptocurrencies most frequently appear in criminal cases concerning drug trafficking. Among other such proceedings involving crypto assets are money laundering and illegal gambling operations.

A further quarter are civil cases, 9% are bankruptcy proceedings, and 5% are administrative.

In civil disputes, the most common claims involve recovery of unjust enrichment in cryptocurrency purchases.

RTM Group also noted that last year residents paid 61.5 million rubles in nine cases for unaccounted electricity use for mining.

In April, the head of Russia’s General Prosecutor’s Office, Igor Krasnov, said there was a need to include digital currencies in the criminal code to investigate cases of their theft and to enable arrests.

The Federation Council proposed to strengthen accountability for crimes involving cryptocurrencies.

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