A Russian cryptocurrency exchange owner seeks pardon from Donald Trump
After serving his sentence in the United States, the Russian founder of a cryptocurrency exchange, Bitzlato, is reaching out to President Donald Trump in hopes of avoiding extradition to France. Anatoly Legkodymov, who was arrested in Miami in 2023, is facing potential extradition to France, where he could be sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison.
Crypto exchange Bitzlato owner seeks clemency from Trump
Anatoly Legkodymov, the Russian engineer and co-founder of Bitzlato, has officially requested a pardon from President Trump, according to his lawyer Ivan Melnikov. Legkodymov was arrested for operating Bitzlato as an unlicensed money exchange service and sentenced to 18 months in prison, which he has already served. However, French authorities are seeking his extradition.
Melnikov, vice president of the Russian branch of the International Committee for Human Rights, stated that Legkodymov’s plea for pardon is based on the hope for a fair approach to digital finance and improved dialogue between the U.S. and Russia.
Another Russian crypto boss in trouble with the West
During his trial, Legkodymov admitted to running an unlicensed money-transmitting business and agreed to forfeit $23 million worth of crypto assets associated with Bitzlato. The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Bitzlato facilitated criminal proceeds and funds for illegal activities, with its largest counterparty being the darknet market Hydra.
This case is not isolated, as other Russian crypto exchange operators have faced legal issues in the West. Dmitry Vasiliev, the former CEO of Wex, was recently arrested in Poland at the request of the U.S. for fraud and money laundering charges. Alexander Vinnik, operator of the BTC-e exchange, was also extradited to France and later to the U.S. after being accused of laundering $9 billion.
Legkodymov’s plea for pardon follows President Trump’s recent pardoning of Ross Ulbricht, the operator of the Silk Road darknet marketplace. With the cryptocurrency industry facing increased scrutiny, the fate of Legkodymov and other crypto entrepreneurs remains uncertain.