Dmitry Vasiliev, the former head of Russian cryptocurrency exchange Wex, has reportedly been arrested in Warsaw, Poland. This reports the Russian BBC.
Not wanted in Poland
The Wex cryptocurrency exchange experienced dark days before it was forced to close its doors. Among other things, it would have laundered money stolen from crypto-related hacks. Perhaps the most infamous incident is the Mt. Gox incident.
Where Vasiliev is not wanted by the police in Poland itself, several other countries have open fraud cases against the fugitive. It is reported that a possible extradition is currently being discussed, but it is not yet known whether this will actually happen.
Although the news is only now being revealed, Vasiliev is said to have been arrested on August 11 of this year. As a result, the Polish authorities have waited more than a month to publish this, perhaps to avoid any problems.
More than $4 billion in Bitcoin laundered
The Wex exchange, which has also been known as BTC-e, has allegedly engaged in multiple illegal activities. Vasiliev is said to have facilitated various Chinese investors as an employee at the time. He would also have laundered a lot of money, just like the head of BTC-e at the time, Alexander Vinnik. Vinnik is accused of laundering a total of more than $4 billion in Bitcoin over a 6-year period. Vinnik has also been arrested in the meantime, after which an investigation has been started.
After Vinnik was arrested, Vasiliev was offered a chance as director of the now rebranded crypto exchange: Wex. Although there were big plans for the exchange, a year later he was blacklisted from America for alleged money laundering. This decision ultimately led to the demise of the exchange. Nevertheless, it turned out to have been the right decision, because the exchange has actually carried out illegal activities.
Vasiliev was also arrested in 2019, but in Italy. At the time, he was soon released after it became known that major errors had been made in the extradition request. It is not yet clear what to expect for Vasiliev: an extradition or a release. However, it is expected that he will be extradited, after which a legal process against Vasiliev can be started.