{"id":17439,"date":"2023-02-09T11:14:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T11:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/bitzlato-co-founder-anton-shkurenko-arrested-in-russia-report-exchanges-bitcoin-news\/"},"modified":"2023-02-09T11:14:21","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T11:14:21","slug":"bitzlato-co-founder-anton-shkurenko-arrested-in-russia-report-exchanges-bitcoin-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/bitzlato-co-founder-anton-shkurenko-arrested-in-russia-report-exchanges-bitcoin-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Bitzlato Co-Founder Anton Shkurenko Arrested in Russia, Report \u2013 Exchanges Bitcoin News"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Originally posted on : Bitcoin News )<\/b>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/header>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n

Russian authorities have reportedly arrested the second co-founder of seized cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato. The man, who recently promised to restore the platform\u2019s operations from Russia, was detained at the request of Interpol and may face extradition to France.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another Co-Founder of the Russia-Linked Bitzlato Exchange Apprehended in Moscow<\/h2>\n

Anton Shkurenko, co-founder of the recently busted<\/a> digital asset exchange Bitzlato, has been arrested in Moscow, the Russian Telegram channel Baza reported. According to a post<\/a> published on Tuesday, the crypto entrepreneur was wanted by French investigators who suspect him of extortion, data theft, and money laundering.<\/p>\n

Better known to the Russian-speaking market, Bitzlato was taken down in an international law enforcement operation in January. The coin trading platform is said to have processed over $700 million in illicit funds received from criminal entities, including the darknet market Hydra<\/a> and the Russian crypto pyramid Finiko<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Hong Kong-registered exchange was established in 2017 by Shkurenko and his partner Anatoly Legkodymov, after launching the previous year as a trading bot called BTC<\/a> Banker which facilitated peer-to-peer transactions.<\/p>\n

Legkodymov, a Russian national residing in China, was arrested by U.S. authorities in Miami last month. An earlier report<\/a> by Baza claims that about a year ago he transferred his share in Bitzlato to his partner and left the post of CEO.<\/p>\n

The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) detained<\/a> another three Bitzlato executives \u2014 the company\u2019s current CEO, financial director, and marketing director \u2014 and a system administrator, in Spain and Cyprus. French law enforcement authorities took control of its servers and its website.<\/p>\n

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is alleging that criminal proceeds from ransomware<\/a> attacks, hacks, scams, and extortions passed through Bitzlato. According to data from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, the world\u2019s largest crypto exchange, Binance, transferred<\/a> cryptocurrency worth nearly $346 million for the platform.<\/p>\n

Russian authorities are yet decide whether to extradite Anton Shkurenko to France, the report noted. The news of his arrest comes after last week he said<\/a> in an interview with a crypto Youtube channel that Bitzlato\u2019s remaining team intends to relocate the business to Russia and relaunch operations, including withdrawals.<\/p>\n

\n
\nTags in this story
\n<\/h6>\n
Anatoly Legkodymov<\/a>, Anton Shkurenko<\/a>, Arrest<\/a>, Bitzlato<\/a>, co-founder<\/a>, Crypto<\/a>, crypto exchange<\/a>, Cryptocurrencies<\/a>, Cryptocurrency<\/a>, detained<\/a>, Europol<\/a>, Exchange<\/a>, France<\/a>, french<\/a>, INTERPOL<\/a>, Money Laundering<\/a>, operation<\/a>, Russia<\/a>, russian<\/a>, trading platform<\/a>, U.S.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Do you expect other arrests in the Bitzlato case and do you think Russia will hand over its co-founder to France? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n\n<\/div>\n
\n
\nLubomir Tassev <\/h6>\n

\nLubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens\u2019s quote: \u201cBeing a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.\u201d Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration.

\n
\n
\n<\/a>
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Image Credits<\/b>: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Disclaimer<\/strong>: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com<\/a> does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n