Russia's Supreme Court is pushing to classify cryptocurrencies as property in criminal cases
According to News.bitcoin citing TASS News Agency, the Russian Supreme Court is pushing to classify cryptocurrencies as property in criminal cases, with the aim of strengthening law enforcement agencies' ability to track, freeze, and confiscate illegal digital assets. The Supreme Court is participating in drafting a legislative initiative aimed at treating digital currencies as criminal litigation property, which can strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to handle cryptocurrency related crimes. This is not the first time that the Russian Supreme Court has dealt with cryptocurrency issues in legal proceedings. In 2019, the court ruled that if digital currency is obtained through illegal activities, especially in cases involving drug trafficking, exchanging Bitcoin for rubles constitutes money laundering. The court's ruling further indicates that cryptocurrencies may fall within the jurisdiction of existing anti money laundering laws. In addition, in 2021, the court ruled that the electronic currency WMZ used in the Webmoney Transfer system is legally recognized as a civil rights object, setting a precedent for Russia's legal treatment of digital assets. These early rulings indicate that the Supreme Court is working to incorporate cryptocurrency into the country's judicial framework.