Russia Seizes $10 Million in Bitcoin from Former Official in Major Bribery Case

Russian authorities have seized $10 million worth of Bitcoin from a former law enforcement official in a high-profile bribery case. The confiscated funds, totaling 103 BTC, were taken from Marat Tambiev, a former employee of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF), who was convicted of accepting bribes in cryptocurrency.
On January 8, 2025, Russian enforcement officers began the formal process of seizing the Bitcoin from Tambiev, which will now be added to Russia's state revenue. According to local reports, the officers accessed Tambiev’s Ledger Nano X hardware wallet to seize the assets. The seizure is part of a broader legal effort following Tambiev’s conviction for crypto bribery in 2023.
A Record-Breaking Bribe
Tambiev's case is notable for its sheer scale, being described as Russia's largest bribery case to date. In October 2024, Tambiev was sentenced to 16 years in prison for accepting a bribe totaling 2,718 BTC, which at the time was worth about $258 million. The 103 BTC seized in the latest operation represents only a fraction—about 4%—of the total bribe he received.
The investigation into Tambiev's activities revealed that he had received the massive bribe in exchange for favorable actions and decisions in various legal proceedings. The bribe was reportedly paid in cryptocurrency by a hacker group known as the Infraud Organization.
Seizure of Bitcoin Assets
The confiscated Bitcoin will now be added to the Russian government’s coffers as part of the legal recovery process. The government’s decision to seize such assets is part of a broader effort to combat corruption and illicit financial activities involving cryptocurrency. Tambiev had reportedly stored his Bitcoin in a hardware wallet, with the private keys found on his laptop in a folder labeled “Retirement.”
Authorities allege that Tambiev was involved in a complex bribery scheme with members of the Infraud Organization, a hacking group accused of a variety of cybercrimes. The group’s leaders, Mark and Konstantin Bergman from Kazakhstan, along with Kirill Samokutyaev from Estonia, are believed to have bribed Tambiev and other former ICRF employees in exchange for halting their legal prosecutions and helping them hide their illicit cryptocurrency holdings.
The Role of the Infraud Organization
The Infraud Organization, known for its extensive criminal activities, played a central role in this case. Investigators found that the hacker group had used bribery to influence various decisions within the ICRF, including attempts to hide 14 billion rubles ($138 million) worth of crypto assets that had been seized during separate investigations.
The investigation further revealed that multiple former ICRF employees were involved in extorting bribes from members of the hacker group. This corruption network allowed the Infraud Organization to evade prosecution, hide assets, and continue its criminal activities with impunity.
Legal Consequences and Broader Impact
The seizure of Bitcoin from Marat Tambiev highlights the growing intersection of cryptocurrency and law enforcement in Russia. As cryptocurrencies become an increasingly popular medium for illicit transactions, Russian authorities are stepping up efforts to track and confiscate digital assets involved in criminal activities.
This case also underscores the role of digital currencies in global bribery and corruption scandals. While the Russian government has pursued the confiscation of these assets, it remains to be seen how the broader international community will respond to the increasing use of cryptocurrency in similar criminal enterprises.
As the legal proceedings continue, Tambiev’s case is expected to serve as a significant example of the evolving relationship between traditional financial systems, cryptocurrencies, and global law enforcement.
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