The Russian washed over half a billion dollars in the USA. Cryptocurrencies bypassed sanctions

Yuri Guignin, a Russian entrepreneur from the cryptocurrency industry, was detained in New York on charges of money laundering. It is about over $ 500 million, which went to Russian banks covered by sanctions. The detainee was charged – he faces a penalty of up to 60 years in prison.

Jurij Gugnin was detained in New York on charges of money laundering – it is about $ 530 million. From 2023, his company Evita Pay and Evita Investment served cryptocurrency transfers for Russian banks covered by sanctions (Sbierbanku, Sowkombanku, VTB and Tinkoff Bank) and helped to buy equipment covered by the embargo. As noted, This is the largest example of Russia's use of cryptocurrencies to avoid Western sanctions.

Interestingly, Guignin, who came to the USA in 2022, promoted cryptocurrencies as a way to conduct international transactions and the fight against money laundering.

“My main message to officials was: Krypto is a dream of special services. Because in the crypto everything is visible, open, stored for a long time and then impossible to remove” – ​​he said in an interview with “Tech Times”.

The entrepreneur also had private accounts in the sanctions of Russian banks Sbierbank and Alfa Bank and made transfers to these banks during his stay in the USA. To hide transactions with Russia, he deleted information about his clients from documents. He used money from Russia to buy works of art, as well as to pay for a yacht manufacturer from France. According to investigators, Guignin had connections with the rule of Russia and Iran and intelligence services of these countries.

“The suspect is accused of transforming a cryptocurrency company into a secret channel for dirty money, shifting over half a billion dollars by the American financial system to help the sanctions of Russian banks and help Russian end users in gaining sensitive American technology,” said John A. Eisenberg, deputy prosecutor General for National Security.

Founder of Cryptocurrency Payment Company Charged with Evading Sanctions and Export Controls, Defrauding Financial Institutions, and Violating the Bank Secrecy Act

🔗: https://t.co/dksad1efxg
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– National Security Division, US Dept of Justice (@dojnatsec) June 9, 2025

In addition, Guignina organized deliveries to Russia of equipment covered by export bans, including parts for ships and technology for the nuclear sector. As a result of his activities, American prosecutors revealed that he served transfers into almost $ 2 billion, including China and the United Arab Emirates.

Ed. Jm

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