A joint investigation conducted by Reuters, Global Ledger, and Rekivers revealed that Russian intelligence agencies, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), are using Bitcoin to fund covert operations.
According to Rekivers, digital currency payments were used to recruit teenagers and inexperienced agents in Poland for tasks such as surveillance, sabotage, and arson.
The investigation also uncovered the use of Bitcoin to finance mercenaries in the Donbas region and to bribe European politicians.