Federal Lawmakers Worry Russian Leaders Are Using Crypto To Avoid Sanctions

A group of federal lawmakers in the United States is citing worries about the possible utilization of cryptocurrency by Russian leaders and oligarchs to bypass the extensive sanctions imposed on Russia as a response to its invasion of Ukraine. Financial advisors and researchers specializing in cryptocurrencies have cautioned that bitcoin and other digital currencies could be employed to finance Russia’s military actions and safeguard the wealth of its oligarchs.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mark Warner, among others, have written a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in which they inquired about the agency’s strategies for monitoring crypto networks to uncover indications of Russian leaders engaging in money transfers and ensuring compliance with sanctions. The senators made reference to the Treasury’s own report from 2021, which underscored the potential of cryptocurrencies to undermine the effectiveness of US sanctions, noting that “criminals, rogue states, and other actors may use digital assets and alternative payment platforms as a new means to hide cross-border transactions for nefarious purposes.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the Treasury issued guidance last year on the evaluation and mitigation of risks arising from crypto markets with regards to sanctions. In an OFAC report, technology companies and crypto users were asked to refrain from transactions involving blocked individuals or property.

The recently sent letter reiterates these concerns and particularly investigates how OFAC is collaborating with foreign governments to enforce its guidance and overcome any obstacles that may impede its efforts.

Concurrently, US Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced the formation of a new interagency task force called KleptoCapture, which will focus on enforcing sanctions and other economic restrictions imposed by the US on Russia. The task force will employ advanced investigative techniques, including the tracing of cryptocurrency, to apprehend and prosecute individuals found to be in violation of the sanctions.

While these announcements do not appear to be a coordinated effort, they do indicate a significant endeavor to investigate the involvement of cryptocurrency networks in Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine.

Recently, Ukraine has requested crypto exchanges to freeze all accounts belonging to Russians. Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, emphasized the importance of not only freezing the addresses associated with Russian and Belarusian politicians but also disrupting the activities of regular users.

Currently, the cryptocurrency industry has largely ignored or condemned calls to freeze Russian assets. Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, stated that the exchange is not in a position to impose sanctions on populations of people and would only respond to requests involving specific individuals. Coinbase, another major exchange, has declined to comply with Ukraine’s request due to its commitment to economic freedom.

According to Bloomberg, the National Security Council and the Treasury Department at the White House have also sought assistance from exchanges in their endeavors to prevent Russia from violating sanctions. Although cryptocurrency networks generally oppose blanket bans, companies like Coinbase are working with the Biden administration to block the accounts of Russians targeted by sanctions.