Crypto news

Russia's judicial system has taken a landmark step by officially recognizing digital financial assets as a full-fledged object of theft. In an updated resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court, dedicated to cases of theft, robbery, and assault, the digital ruble, digital currency, and digital rights are now equated to material property. The document was adopted at a special session chaired by Igor Krasnov.

For the entire domestic crypto industry, this clarification is of immense significance. Legally, it effectively establishes that any digital assets—from the state digital ruble to decentralized cryptocurrencies—fall under full criminal legal protection on par with traditional material forms of property. This closes the legal gap that has long existed in law enforcement practice.

Which assets are now protected by law

The highest judicial authority has detailed the list of valuables that may be unlawfully seized. The updated list includes:

• physical items;
• cash money;
• documentary securities;
• other movable and immovable property.

To the last category, the court directly added non-cash funds, including digital rubles, non-documentary securities, digital rights, and digital currency. Thus, the digital ruble—the third form of national currency from the Bank of Russia—is now unequivocally considered a lawful object for qualifying theft. A similar legal approach now applies to cryptocurrency and any digital rights.

Moment of crime commission and legal nuances

Separately, in its resolution, the Supreme Court clarified the exact timing. A criminal offense is considered completed directly from the moment assets are debited from the victim's account. It is at that point that the perpetrator actually gains a real opportunity to dispose of the stolen property.

Furthermore, the highest judicial body detailed the legal situation with multiple consecutive debits. If a single victim's savings are withdrawn in parts, in several transactions, but all the perpetrator's actions are united by a single intent, the act is qualified as one continuing crime, rather than a series of separate criminal episodes.

According to official judicial statistics, more than 26,000 people are convicted annually in Russia for theft from bank accounts or involving electronic funds. The new clarification from the Supreme Court significantly expands the toolkit for law enforcement agencies to combat theft in the digital environment.

Commentary from Cryptalist analyst: This decision is a crucial precedent for the entire market. It not only protects holders of digital rubles but also creates a clear legal framework for cryptocurrency operations. However, investors should remember: enhanced protection also means enhanced control. Now, any illegal operations with digital assets will be considered with the full severity of the criminal code, which will inevitably lead to an increase in the number of investigations in this area.