The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation equated the digital ruble and cryptocurrency to property — a new era of criminal protection
Russia's highest judicial authority has taken a crucial step for the entire digital economy. In an updated resolution of the Plenum dedicated to cases of theft, robbery, and armed robbery, the Supreme Court officially recognized the digital ruble, digital currency, and digital rights as objects of theft. The document was adopted at a special session chaired by Igor Krasnov.
This clarification is of enormous significance for the entire domestic cryptocurrency industry. Legally, it effectively establishes that any digital assets now fall under full criminal law protection on par with traditional material forms of property. Now, the theft of a digital ruble or bitcoin will be classified in the same way as the theft of a wallet or cash.
What exactly is now considered the subject of a crime
The highest judicial authority has detailed the list of valuables that may be unlawfully seized during theft, robbery, armed robbery, or other similar property crimes. Thus, the updated list includes:
- physical items;
- cash money;
- documentary securities;
- other movable and immovable property.
To the latter category, the court directly added non-cash funds, including digital rubles, non-documentary securities, digital rights, and digital currency. Thanks to this decision, the digital ruble, which represents 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.
When exactly does the crime occur
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. This is because it is at that point that the perpetrator actually gains a real opportunity to dispose of the stolen property.
Furthermore, the highest judicial body described in detail the legal situation with multiple consecutive debits. For example, if a single victim's savings are withdrawn in parts, in several transactions, but all the perpetrator's actions are united by a single intent, the act is classified as one ongoing crime, rather than a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 thefts from bank accounts or involving electronic funds. This Supreme Court decision significantly expands the legal framework and creates a precedent that will strengthen the protection of digital asset owners' rights.
My comment as an analyst: This step is the logical culmination of a long struggle for legal certainty in the Russian crypto sphere. Now, investors and users of digital rubles have a clear legal tool to protect their funds at the level of the Criminal Code. However, in practice, the key challenge will remain proving the fact of theft and tracking digital footprints—this will require close interaction between the judicial system and experts in blockchain analytics.