๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐
According to a joint investigation by Reuters, Global Ledger, and Recoveris, Russiaโs secret services are recruiting young and untrained spies, paying them in Bitcoin, and operating through a coordinated crypto laundering network.
๐น Teenage Spy Paid $500 in Bitcoin
Canadian teenager Laken Pavan, 17, was recruited in Donetsk by Russiaโs FSB after volunteering for pro-Russian fighters.
He was threatened and forced to work as a spy, then sent across Europe with instructions to gather intelligence.
After receiving $500 in Bitcoin from a handler named โSlon,โ Pavan turned himself in to Polish authorities.
๐น $600M Wallet Traced to FSB?
Investigators followed Pavanโs Bitcoin payment trail and found two middle wallets linked to a larger BTC wallet created in June 2022.
That major wallet has moved $600 million+ in Bitcoin, mostly during Moscow business hours (6amโ6pm).
It also sent funds to sanctioned Russian crypto exchange Garantex and appears tied to a mining pool and custodial service.
Though the wallet canโt be officially confirmed as FSB-owned, patterns strongly suggest intelligence agency involvement.
๐น Russiaโs Wider Crypto Spy Network
According to Recoveris, Russiaโs FSB and military intelligence (GRU) regularly pay spies, saboteurs, and propagandists in crypto.
In 2023, a spy ring of young Belarusians and Ukrainians in Poland used crypto funds for surveillance, graffiti, and fake news.
Some agents were even paid in crypto to commit arson or disrupt transport lines.
๐น Why Use Bitcoin for Espionage?
Bitcoin allows fast, cross-border payments with no government interference.
Cryptoโs transparent blockchain lets Russian officers track how funds are spent.
As sanctions isolate Russia further, crypto will likely remain a key tool for its intelligence operations.