The Russian founder of the Bitzlato cryptocurrency exchange, Anatoly Legkodymov, was sentenced to the 18 months he had already served in the US for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. This business was involved in masking the proceeds of illegal activities such as gambling and drug deals, totaling over $700 million. Legkodymov, arrested in January 2023, pleaded guilty and admitted that Bitzlato was used for transactions linked to the dark web, including the Hydra Market.

HYDRA

The Russian founder of the Bitzlato cryptocurrency exchange was sentenced to the 18 months he’d already served behind bars in the US for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business that masked the proceeds of illegal gambling and drug deals valued at more than $700 million.Anatoly Legkodymov, who had been in federal custody since his January 2023 arrest, was sentenced to time served Thursday by US District Judge Eric Vitaliano in Brooklyn, New York. Legkodymov, who pleaded guilty in December, admitted knowing for years that Bitzlato was being used as a conduit for transactions tied to the dark web, including the notorious drug bazaar Hydra Market, which was shut down by authorities in 2022.

Bitzlato Founder Sentenced to Time Served in $700 Million Illegal Transaction Case