Russia cracks down on unlicensed crypto exchanges it claims are linked to Ukraine
Russian authorities have shut down nine cryptocurrency channels, alleging they were used by Ukrainian-linked call centers to scam Russian citizens. The FSB claims these exchanges were used to fund Ukraine's war effort, though evidence was not provided.
Why it matters
Illustrates the intersection of financial technology, cybercrime, and geopolitical conflict in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The arrests took place at Moscow City, the capital’s high-rise business district, the security agency said. It also said that the FSB and the Interior Ministry had shut down nine channels used to transfer funds abroad through cryptocurrency.
“Young people from the Russian regions who are looking for easy money are remotely recruited to work at these crypto exchanges despite having limited financial literacy,” the FSB said.
Authorities explained that the ring it busted relied on call centers in Ukraine that targeted Russians remotely, including pensioners. Victims were allegedly kept on the phone and told in detail how to proceed before being sent to the crypto exchange offices to buy crypto and transfer it to accounts controlled by the alleged criminals.
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