Russian crypto exchange serves gangs, rich Russians and Hamas terrorists
Despite US sanctions, Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange, continues to serve criminal gangs, wealthy Russian citizens, and a Hamas-linked terrorist group.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Details: The Wall Street Journal reported that last year, the US imposed sanctions on a Moscow-based cryptocurrency exchange to prevent Russian citizens from circumventing the financial restrictions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However, Garantex became the main channel Russian citizens use to move money in and out of the country, sources close to Garantex told The WSJ.
According to the US government data, Russian cybercriminals are using the crypto exchange to launder their income.
"Garantex’s growing role as a global conduit for illicit funds was underscored this month by evidence that Palestinian militants in part financed their operations through crypto in the lead-up to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel," The WSJ reported.
"Digital wallets controlled by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which joined Hamas in the attacks, received a portion of $93 million via Garantex," the report reads.
The exchange is also used in Russia to convert roubles into other currencies. Clients deposit roubles in cash at Garantex offices to receive cryptocurrency, mostly stablecoins, which can then be withdrawn as hard currency abroad from a network of the exchange’s local partners.
Crypto data provider Coinpaprika said that customer transactions on the platform totaled around US$865 million in July, more than triple what it processed the month it was sanctioned.
Launched in 2019, Garantex is the most popular cryptocurrency exchange in Russia for trading roubles.
Previously: The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against Hydra, the largest Russian-language darknet platform, and the Garantex crypto exchange.
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