Searches conducted in 'Moscow City' in case of embezzlement of 144 million rubles

cryptonews.ruPublished on 2026-07-31Last updated on 2026-07-31

Abstract

Searches were conducted at offices of a cryptocurrency exchange network in the "Federation East" tower of Moscow-City as part of an investigation into the theft of 144 million rubles. The victim, a man named Vladimir R., was deceived by criminals posing as Russian FSB officers into transferring the money through a Moscow-based crypto exchange. All exchange points have been temporarily closed, and dozens of people have been detained, with eight already under pre-trial restrictions. Separately, the Russian government on the same day banned cryptocurrency mining in Moscow, the Moscow region, and part of the Kursk region, effective from August 15, 2026, to December 31, 2032. This follows a law passed by the State Duma on July 21 introducing comprehensive regulation for digital currencies and rights. According to this law, starting July 1, 2027, only crypto exchanges and related entities registered in a special state register will be allowed to operate.

A series of searches were conducted in the offices of a cryptocurrency exchange network located in the Federation East Tower (Moscow City) in connection with the embezzlement of 144 million rubles. Izvestia learned about this on July 31.

The victim of the crime was a man named Vladimir R., who fell under the influence of criminals. They, pretending to be employees of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), convinced the owner of a large sum to transfer it to them. The operation was carried out through one of the capital's crypto exchanges.

For the time being, all exchange points have been temporarily closed. In addition, dozens of people were detained in the building, eight of whom have already been placed under arrest.

On the same day, the Russian government introduced a ban on cryptocurrency mining in Moscow, the Moscow region, and a separate territory of the Kursk region, which will be in effect from August 15, 2026, until December 31, 2032.

A few days before this, on July 21, the State Duma of Russia adopted a law on introducing comprehensive regulation of the circulation of digital currencies and digital rights in the country. In accordance with it, from July 1, 2027, only those crypto exchanges and representatives of this sphere who have passed registration in a special state register will be allowed to operate.

end-content

Related Questions

QWhat was the location of the cryptocurrency exchange offices that were searched?

AThe offices were located in the 'Federation Vostok' tower within the 'Moscow-City' business district.

QHow were the alleged perpetrators said to have convinced the victim to transfer the money?

AThey pretended to be employees of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and convinced the victim to transfer the funds to them.

QWhat government action concerning cryptocurrency mining was announced on the same day as the raids?

AThe Russian government introduced a ban on cryptocurrency mining in Moscow, the Moscow region, and part of the Kursk region, effective from August 15, 2026, to December 31, 2032.

QAccording to a recent law, from what date will only registered cryptocurrency exchanges be permitted to operate in Russia?

AFrom July 1, 2027, only cryptocurrency exchanges and other representatives of this sphere who are registered in a special state register will be permitted to operate.

QHow many people detained in the building had a preventive measure chosen for them at the time of the report?

AEight people who were detained in the building had a preventive measure chosen for them.

Related Reads

Within Strategy's Framework, STRC's Dividend Yield Remains at 12% as Share Price Stays Below Par Value

Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy (MSTR), confirmed that the dividend rate for its STRC perpetual preferred shares will remain at 12.00% through August 2026. The rate has increased from 9% at its July 2025 launch to the current high via a "ratchet" mechanism, which permanently raises the rate by 0.5% whenever the share price falls below $95. This mechanism is intended to push the price back toward its $100 par value and support Strategy's "at-the-market" (ATM) program for issuing new shares to fund Bitcoin purchases. However, the mechanism has not worked as intended. STRC shares closed at $89.46 on July 31, remaining about 10-11% below par value despite the record-high dividend. Competition from rival Strive's higher-yielding SATA securities has pressured demand. The persistent discount has forced Strategy to suspend new STRC issuances via its ATM program, limiting this funding channel for Bitcoin acquisitions. STRC's struggles reflect Bitcoin's own volatility, as the preferred shares historically move in tandem. Analysts have warned the ratchet structure carries long-term, one-way risk. A law firm is investigating Strategy's ability to maintain dividend payments if Bitcoin's price stays low. Retail investors own roughly 83% of outstanding STRC shares, a group seen as prone to panic selling during downturns. In response, Strategy has established financial reserves, including a liquidity cushion covering about 26 months of dividend/interest obligations, and a $2 billion share buyback program alongside a Bitcoin monetization framework, though the company emphasized it is not obligated to sell any Bitcoin.

cryptonews.ru14m ago

Within Strategy's Framework, STRC's Dividend Yield Remains at 12% as Share Price Stays Below Par Value

cryptonews.ru14m ago

Analyst: Bitcoin's Price Will Drop to $60k in August, Then Rebound to $70k

Financial analyst Andrey Poroshin has provided a new forecast for Bitcoin's price dynamics in August. Poroshin, an analyst at the Bitbanker exchange, expects the cryptocurrency market to experience a downturn this month, with prices retesting the $60,000 level due to a lack of supportive macroeconomic catalysts. He noted that the recent US Federal Reserve decision to hold interest rates did not significantly impact the market, while inflation remains above the 2% target. Poroshin stated that Bitcoin is ending July under pressure from moderate volatility and a lack of new macroeconomic stimuli, leading to continued market caution. According to his base scenario, Bitcoin will drop to a range of $60,000 to $62,000 before recovering to $70,000. He pointed out that even $70,000 remains below the cost of mining in the US, which has prompted some miners to shift towards AI data center operations. Poroshin cited the winding down of BitMEX's operations as a potential catalyst for a price rebound, suggesting the exit of weaker players often coincides with market reversals and reduced short-term selling pressure. He believes Bitcoin is currently less susceptible to geopolitical shocks, such as the Iran-US conflict, and does not expect significant market changes in August related to the pending CLARITY Act. Looking ahead, Poroshin forecasts that September will bring more active price fluctuations driven by potential Fed rate decisions and possible discussions or approval of the CLARITY Act.

cryptonews.ru14m ago

Analyst: Bitcoin's Price Will Drop to $60k in August, Then Rebound to $70k

cryptonews.ru14m ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片