Russia Recognizes Crypto as Property for Criminal Seizures
Russian lawmakers have passed measures that explicitly allow the state to treat cryptocurrency as property in criminal proceedings. The change gives prosecutors and courts clearer legal grounds to freeze and confiscate digital assets in an expanding range of investigations and prosecutions, formalizing procedures that were previously inconsistent.
The move matters for exchanges, custodians and holders: it provides regulatory clarity that could streamline asset recovery in criminal cases but also raises questions about due process, cross‑border enforcement and custody practices. Businesses may need to update compliance and seizure‑response procedures, while users could face greater risk of on‑chain asset loss in criminal matters. Observers say the law could both strengthen law enforcement’s ability to disrupt illicit finance and prompt renewed interest in privacy tools and self‑custody safeguards.