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BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charges

BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ChargesAccording to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Alexander Vinnik, a former operator of the BTC-e exchange, has admitted to a conspiracy to launder money. This admission of guilt comes over six years following his arrest in Greece on July 25, 2017. BTC-e’s Vinnik Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering The Department of […]

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US May Consider Alexander Vinnik for Prisoner Exchange With Russia, Lawyer Says

US May Consider Alexander Vinnik for Prisoner Exchange With Russia, Lawyer SaysCrypto exchange BTC-e’s alleged operator Alexander Vinnik may be a candidate for prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. That’s according to a statement by one of his lawyers for Russian media. The latest court hearing in Vinnik’s case has been postponed. Russian Accused of Laundering Billions Through Crypto May Return Home, According to […]

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BTC-e’s Alexander Vinnik Applies for Release on Bail Citing Trial Delay

BTC-e’s Alexander Vinnik Applies for Release on Bail Citing Trial DelayThe alleged operator of crypto exchange BTC-e, Alexander Vinnik, has asked to be released on bail due to the delay in court proceedings. In early August, the Russian IT specialist was extradited to the United States to face charges of money laundering through the now-defunct coin trading platform. Vinnik’s Defense Appeals for His Release on […]

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10,000 Bitcoin Withdrawn From Wallet of Defunct Crypto Exchange Wex, Former BTC-e

10,000 Bitcoin Withdrawn From Wallet of Defunct Crypto Exchange Wex, Former BTC-eA large amount of cryptocurrency kept in a wallet associated with crypto exchange Wex, successor of the infamous trading platform run by alleged money launderer Alexander Vinnik, has moved for the first time since 2017. The 10,000 bitcoins in question, worth over $165 million, have been transferred to new addresses in several transactions. Bitcoin Stored […]

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10,000 BTC moves off crypto wallet linked to Mt. Gox hack

The crypto was dormant in the account for over seven years and with the move, a majority found its way to personal wallets.

A crypto wallet belonging to the shutdown crypto exchange BTC-e has just moved 10,000 Bitcoin (BTC), currently worth over $165 million, to various exchanges, personal wallets, and other sources on Nov. 23.

A Nov. 23 Chainalysis report suggested while this withdrawal is the largest made by BTC-e since April 2018, BTC-e and WEX — an exchange which is thought to be BTC-e’s successor — both sent small amounts of BTC to Russian electronic payments service Webmoney on Oct. 26 before making a test payment on Nov. 11, then transferring out a further 100 BTC on Nov. 21.

The movement of BTC belonging to BTC-e and WEX wallets. Image: Chainalysis

Of the total amount sent, 9,950 BTC is thought to still be located in personal wallets, while the rest was moved through intermediaries before ending up at four deposit addresses in two large exchanges.

Blockchain analytics firm Cryptoquant co-founder and CEO, Ki Young Ju, also verified the findings noting 0.6% of the funds were sent to exchanges and may represent sell-side liquidity.

In a Nov. 24 tweet, Young Ju shared images of the transfer highlighting the BTC had been in the wallet for over seven years.

Young Ju also mentioned that 65 BTC had been transferred to the crypto exchange HitBTC and called on them to suspend the account for suspicious activity.

Related: Crypto has survived worse than the fall of FTX: Chainalysis

Mt. Gox was a Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange that once accounted for more than 70% of Bitcoin transactions. In 2014, the exchange was hacked with thousands of Bitcoin stolen, the exchange filed for bankruptcy shortly after. 

BTC-e, which had its servers located in the United States, had its website shut down and funds seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2017 after allegations that it was involved in money laundering, including crypto stolen during the Mt. Gox exchange hack.

According to Chainalysis, at the time of its shutdown BTC-e still held “a substantial amount of Bitcoin,” and in April 2018 moved over 30,000 BTC out of its service wallet.

While the owners of BTC-e attempted to remain anonymous, Alexander Vinnik is thought to be the main operator and has been embroiled in legal battles for the last five years as a result.

A WizSecurity report released in 2017 alleged that BTC-e and Vinnik were directly involved in the theft of Mt. Gox Bitcoin and user funds, with the latter being forced to suspend trading and close its website after the losses.

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French Lawyer Asks Russian Patriarch to Help Save Alexander Vinnik From ‘Political Trial’ in US

French Lawyer Asks Russian Patriarch to Help Save Alexander Vinnik From ‘Political Trial’ in USA member of the defense team of the alleged BTC-e operator Alexander Vinnik has called on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to intervene in support of his client. The Russian national may be sentenced to over 50 years in prison for his role in the infamous cryptocurrency exchange. Prisoner Swap for Americans in […]

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Lawyer of Alleged Crypto Launderer Vinnik Calls on Russia to Talk Prisoner Swap With US

Lawyer of Alleged Crypto Launderer Vinnik Calls on Russia to Talk Prisoner Swap With USA lawyer representing Russian IT specialist Alexander Vinnik has urged the government in Moscow to discuss a potential exchange of prisoners with the United States, where he was recently extradited. The French legal expert is convinced only a return to his homeland could save Vinnik who has deteriorating health after solitary confinement in France and […]

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Crypto Exchange BTC-e Operator Vinnik Reportedly Denied Bail in US, Maintains Innocence

Crypto Exchange BTC-e Operator Vinnik Reportedly Denied Bail in US, Maintains InnocenceAlexander Vinnik, the alleged owner and operator of the infamous cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, has been found not eligible for release on bail in the United States, where he was recently transferred from Greece. The Russian, accused of large-scale money laundering through the now-defunct trading platform, and other crimes, rejects U.S. charges. Alexander Vinnik Remains in […]

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Alleged BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik in US Custody After Immediate Extradition From Greece

Alleged BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik in US Custody After Immediate Extradition From GreeceRussian IT specialist Alexander Vinnik, accused of owning and running the infamous crypto exchange BTC-e, has been handed over to the U.S. This week, Greek authorities proceeded with the extradition, after his return from France, despite Vinnik’s defense protesting the move and calling the case a “judicial, diplomatic and humanitarian scandal.” Vinnik Appears in San […]

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Vinnik to Be ‘Hostage’ in US Amid Russia’s War in Ukraine, Greek Lawyer Says

Vinnik to Be ‘Hostage’ in US Amid Russia’s War in Ukraine, Greek Lawyer SaysIf extradited to the United States, crypto exchange BTC-e’s alleged operator Alexander Vinnik will become a “hostage” due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to his Greek lawyer. France is likely to send the Russian back to Greece soon and Zoe Konstantopoulou is trying to prevent his subsequent transfer to U.S. custody. Alexander Vinnik’s […]

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