Alexander Vinnik, the former operator of the cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, is set to be released as part of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. Vinnik, who pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2024, was involved in illegally moving funds through BTC-e, leading to approximately $121 million in losses. His release comes as schoolteacher Marc Fogel returned to the US on February 11 after being released from Russian custody, where he had been detained since 2021 for illegal possession of cannabis. While Vinnik’s freedom is confirmed, details regarding the release of another Russian national and the potential repatriation of additional US citizens remain unclear. This developing situation highlights ongoing negotiations between the two nations concerning detained citizens.

Source 🔗