Russia comes closer to the sale of Bitcoin during criminal investigations, since civil servants work to create a legal structure for dealing with such digital assets, local media outlet RBC reported.
According to the report, the Russian federal bailiff, in coordination with other government agencies, is leading efforts to seize crypto in government revenues.
Dmitry Aristov, head of the federal bailiff, confirmed that the authorities are developing a legal and operational mechanism to convert confiscated bitcoin into state income.
The initiative is expected to start with a controversial case with a former officer who is caught in a crypto-reforming scandal.
In June 2023, Russian researchers discovered that Marat Tambiev, who once led the investigation committee for the Tverskoy district, had accepted a bribery of 1,032.1 BTC. At the time, the stock was worth around $ 28 million.
The court ruled that the Bitcoin companies from Tambiev were obtained through inexplicable sources and sentenced him to 16 years in prison and a fine of 500 million rubles.
Despite the conviction, Russian officials still navigate how they can legally occupy and sell the digital assets.
Aristov explained that discussions are underway to determine how the state can sell the confiscated bitcoin, so that the absence of existing legal paths for the confiscation of crypto assets is noticed. He explained:
“Bitcoins were found during the criminal case. Now we work together with the relevant authorities to develop a methodology for the implementation of this type of financial instrument.”
In the meantime, this development contrasts with recent movements of the United States.
Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to set up a strategic Bitcoin reserve that prevents the country from selling its BTC interests. Instead, the US government is planning to build this reserve through direct purchases and assets.
However, Russia takes a more cautious position. VICE minister of Finance Vladimir Kolychev recently repeated that the country is not going to add cryptocurrencies to its national reserves, referring to their extreme volatility and unpredictable price fluctuations.