Poland will extradite Russian cryptocurrency scammer to US over BTC-e platform case

Polish authorities have approved the extradition of the former head of the crypto exchange Wex Dmitry Vasilyev to the United States. This is reported by TASS with reference to the lawyer Alexander Surzhin. According to him, the decision was signed by the Polish justice minister, and Vasilyev’s transfer may take place in the near future.

U.S. investigators accuse him of two crimes related to the activities of the BTC-e and Wex platforms. Vasilyev is charged with fraud and money laundering, which could result in up to 25 years in prison. The investigation considers him an accomplice in schemes related to Alexander Vinnik.

Apart from the USA, the Ukrainian authorities are also interested in Vasilyev. Poland does not rule out the possibility of extradition if Kiev sends a corresponding request. Thus, the issue of his criminal prosecution may expand beyond the U.S. case.

In 2019, Vasilyev was wanted in absentia in Kazakhstan and then arrested in Italy. Later, he was also detained in Croatia and Poland, but extradition proceedings were repeatedly postponed. The last arrest took place in October 2024 in Warsaw.

At the time, Exved CEO Sergey Mendeleyev reported the detention, saying that Polish law enforcers had gained access to Vasilyev’s personal data, including the contents of his phone. This apparently provided additional evidence for the extradition approval.