The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has officially recognized cryptocurrency as an object of theft: a new precedent in law enforcement.
On June 16, the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation unanimously approved amendments to the 2002 resolution regulating judicial practice in cases of theft, robbery, and armed robbery. Now, the list of items subject to theft includes digital rubles, digital rights, and digital currency. This decision fundamentally changes the approach to qualifying crimes involving digital assets.
Special attention is given to the moment of completion of non-cash theft: from now on, the crime is considered completed at the moment funds are debited from the victim's account. This level of detail is critically important for the proper qualification of perpetrators' actions, especially in cases involving complex schemes.
The court also clarified that in cases of theft from a bank account or electronic funds, the subject of the crime is exclusively non-cash funds or electronic money. If funds from a single victim are stolen through several successive debits but are united by a single intent, such actions should be considered as one ongoing crime.
Statistics confirm the scale of the problem: annually in Russia, more than 26,000 people are convicted for theft from bank accounts or electronic funds. Including cryptocurrency in this list is a logical step, given the rise in crimes involving digital assets.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had already taken a firm stance: in June 2023, converting bitcoins into rubles was recognized as money laundering, and in May 2024, courts were required to verify the ownership of crypto wallets when considering cases. The current decision definitively establishes cryptocurrency in the legal field as an object subject to protection from theft.
My analysis: This decision is a significant step toward legalizing cryptocurrency in Russia, but with a clear emphasis on strengthening control. For investors, this is a dual signal: on one hand, assets receive legal protection; on the other, the risk of criminal prosecution for transactions with them increases. The market should prepare for stricter regulation and judicial precedents.