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In September, US authorities decided to impose sanctions against the cryptocurrency exchange Suex, registered in Prague with offices in St. Petersburg and Moscow, specifically in Moscow City, the capital's largest business hub. This was a first for the US, as the country had never previously imposed sanctions against crypto exchanges. US government officials justified their decision by citing that the organization facilitated the withdrawal of funds obtained through fraud and extortion.
Recorder Future, a privately held cybersecurity firm headquartered in Massachusetts, claimed that approximately 50 crypto exchanges operate in Moscow City, not shying away from illegal operations. The New York Times published an interview with its specialists, in which they described the Russian capital's business center as a hub for illegal cryptocurrency operations.
Recorder Future experts believe that some of the payments to crypto ransomware ran through crypto exchanges located in Moscow City. They believe the business center's skyscrapers attract crypto exchanges because of their prestige. Beautiful photos of the towers themselves and the views from their panoramic windows have long made Moscow City famous, and the area itself is already considered elite. Therefore, registering with such a prestigious legal address significantly increases user trust in the companies and directly signals their credibility.
Additional materials on the topic: Bloomberg reported on a "cybercriminal ATM" in Moscow City.
