New Zealand, record seizure of 80 million euros from the Russian "king of cryptocurrencies"

2020-10-17T10:11:05.357Z

The New Zealand authorities have seized cash worth 80 million euros from the "king of cryptocurrencies", Aleksandr Vinnik, a Russian citizen, currently under arrest in France, on charges of theft of personal data and extortion. The New Zealand judicial authorities acted jointly with the US Internal Revenue Service. According to investigators, Canton Business Corporation is linked to the BTC cryptocurrency platform and traceable to Vinnik. The platform, according to the investigative hypothesis, would have been involved in money laundering, cybercrime, theft and drug trafficking. Aleksandr Vinnik was arrested on 25 July 2017, at the request of the US, in Greece, where he was on vacation. The US has asked for extradition to officially indict him. For the hypothesis of disputed crimes, Vinnik in the US would risk 55 years in prison and a multi-million dollar fine. Russia also requested Vinnik's extradition and he sent a letter to the Russian Attorney General, showing repentance and willingness to cooperate fully with the investigators. Greece, on the other hand, extradited him last January 24 to France, which also has accounts to settle with the Russian businessman. French investigators accuse Aleksandr Vinnik of the theft of personal data and extortion. Now it is a puzzle as to which state the "king of cryptocurrencies" will be prosecuting.