Russian authorities have confiscated about $10 million in Bitcoin from Marat Tambiev, a former employee of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF). The seizure included 103 Bitcoin stored in a Ledger Nano X hardware wallet. This event highlights Russia’s approach to digital assets in legal matters.
Tambiev’s case is linked to the largest bribery scandal in Russian history, involving a bribe of 2,718 BTC, valued at approximately $258 million at the time. In 2023, the Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow ordered the seizure of 1,032 BTC from Tambiev, claiming the assets were from unverified income.
The investigation began after Tambiev’s arrest in March 2022, when authorities found the private keys to his Bitcoin wallet in a folder labeled “Retirement” on his laptop. The bribe was traced to the Infraud Organization, a hacker group, where members from Kazakhstan and Estonia allegedly paid Tambiev for favorable judicial outcomes, including halting their prosecutions and hiding over $138 million in cryptocurrency.
This case reveals significant corruption within parts of Russian governance and illustrates the country’s changing perspective on cryptocurrency. The seized Bitcoin will be added to Russia’s state revenue, indicating a shift in how the nation is managing digital currencies officially.
As Russia explores the use of cryptocurrencies for international trade, especially to bypass Western sanctions, the finance minister has expressed a willingness to incorporate Bitcoin in foreign transactions. This situation reflects a dual strategy towards cryptocurrency: regulating and integrating it while also taking strict measures against its use in illegal activities.
