Will Pre-Trial Detention Facilities Be Filled with Bitcoin Traders? Legal Expert Evaluates Proposed Penalties for Dropers in Russia

He explained that the legislator’s objective is to combat drop fraud. The new bill outlines specific conditions under which individuals can be held criminally liable for transferring electronic payment methods, including bank cards, to others for the purpose of conducting illegal transactions.

«Illegal transactions, as noted in the commentary, refer to the transfer, issuance, or receipt of funds without valid legal grounds as stipulated by laws, other legal acts, or contractual obligations,» the lawyer pointed out.

According to him, whereas there was previously responsibility in Russia for carders who forged payment orders from accountants and malware-producing hackers, there is now also legal consequences for transferring a card «from Vasya to Petya.»

«Since law enforcers often interpret laws very broadly to suit their needs, this provides significant room for abuse, even though it might be an effective approach to tackle so-called drop fraud,» Likhunov warned.

Under the provisions of the bill, a criminal penalty of up to three years is proposed for drops, while those facilitating drops and traders could face up to six years.

The lawyer reminded that many citizens of Russia require cryptocurrencies due to sanctions and the current political climate.

«The question arises: will the act of selling cryptocurrency itself fall under the category of illegal transactions? If it does, it could lead to everyone being prosecuted. In pre-trial detention, drug addicts could be replaced by drops and cryptocurrency enthusiasts,» Likhunov asserted.

He added that since 2022, he has avoided card transactions when selling digital assets, opting instead to exchange them exclusively for cash.

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