The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has officially recognized cryptocurrency as an object of theft: a new stage of legal regulation.
On June 16, the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation made a historic decision by amending the resolution on judicial practice in cases of theft, robbery, and armed robbery, which had been in effect since 2002. Now, the list of items subject to theft includes digital rubles, digital rights, and digital currency. This is a fundamentally important step that finally solidifies crypto assets within Russia's legal framework as property subject to protection under criminal law.
The key innovation concerns the moment a crime is considered completed in cases of non-cash fund theft: it is now deemed complete from the moment the money is debited from the victim's account. For cryptocurrencies, this means that the mere act of transferring digital assets from the victim's wallet will be considered a completed crime, simplifying qualification and proof in court.
Special attention should be paid to the clarification regarding theft from bank accounts: courts are required to recognize only non-cash funds in accounts or electronic money as the object of the crime. If a single victim's funds are stolen through several successive debits united by a single intent, this must be treated as one ongoing crime. This closes loopholes for criminals attempting to break up theft into small transactions.
The statistics are impressive: annually in Russia, more than 26,000 people are convicted for theft from bank accounts or electronic money. With the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in the list of items subject to theft, this figure could significantly increase, especially amid the rising number of crimes involving digital assets.
This decision is not the first in a series of precedents. In June 2023, the Supreme Court recognized the conversion of bitcoins into rubles as money laundering, and in May 2024, it mandated verification of cryptocurrency wallet ownership when reviewing cases. Thus, the Russian judicial system is consistently building a legal framework for working with digital assets, and this is only the beginning.
Expert opinion from Cryptalist: Recognizing cryptocurrency as an item of theft is not just a legal formality but a powerful signal to the market. Legalizing the legal status of digital assets in criminal law creates a precedent for their recognition in civil and tax disputes. However, investors should remember: with protection comes responsibility. Now, the state will more actively pursue not only the theft of crypto but also its use in illegal schemes. The market is becoming more transparent but also stricter.