On October 17, 2025, the crypto world was shaken by the news: assets worth $694 million disappeared from an inactive Bitcoin wallet linked to Oleksandr Bilychenko, co-founder of the closed exchange BTC-e. According to blockchain analysts, the wallet bc1ql7c, which had not moved for three years, transferred 6500 $BTC to two unknown addresses at 16:34 UTC.
Bilychenko, a programmer from Novosibirsk, together with Oleksandr Vinnik, founded BTC-e in 2011. The exchange became known as a platform for money laundering, particularly of funds stolen during the Mt. Gox hack (647,000 BTC). In 2017, the FBI shut down BTC-e, seizing servers, and Vinnik was arrested in Greece. Bilychenko launched the successor WEX, but in 2018, $450 million in cryptocurrency disappeared from it. According to him, the FSB of Russia, specifically an agent named 'Anton', forced him to hand over the keys at the office on Lubyanka.
These 6500 BTC arrived at the wallet from Bilychenko's address in November 2022, after cooperating with US authorities. The transfer coincided with the drop in Bitcoin and liquidations of $1 billion. Who is behind the movement — the FSB or hackers? The blockchain records everything, but the mystery remains.
This serves as a reminder of the risks: even 'sleeping' wallets are vulnerable. Investors should strengthen their protection.
#BTCeScandal #BitcoinMystery #CryptoTheft #FSBConnection #BlockchainNews
Subscribe to #MiningUpdates for fresh news from the world of cryptocurrencies and mining!