Searches at "Gorbushka": law enforcement officers raided a network of illegal crypto exchangers
Moscow's "Gorbushka" market has become the center of a large-scale law enforcement operation. Searches that began the day before are still ongoing. Based on my information, the investigative actions are linked to the activities of underground digital currency exchange points, which, apparently, had been operating here for years.
Operatives are working directly in the pavilions and service areas of the shopping complex. This concerns "New Gorbushka" — a building adjacent to the historic market, known as "Gorbushkin Dvor." It was there, according to preliminary information, that illegal exchange services were located.
What is happening on the complex's territory
According to my information, law enforcement has already seized large sums of cash, documents, and electronic equipment. Part of the complex's territory is cordoned off, employees of illegal exchange offices are blocked inside the premises and are being questioned on site. There is no official data on detainees yet, but judging by the scale of the operation, it is only a matter of time.
Witnesses report that "people in masks" arrived the previous afternoon and are still working. The complex's administration confirmed that the measures are taking place specifically at "New Gorbushka," not at the old building near the Gorbunov Palace of Culture, which has long become a legend of Moscow's electronics trade.
In my estimation, these exchange points had been operating on the complex's territory for several years. This is not a one-off action but a systematic crackdown — and it fits into the broader context of the fight against shadow crypto exchange in the capital.
Two "Gorbushkas" and previous raids
"Old Gorbushka" is a market that emerged back in the late 1980s. "New Gorbushka" is an indoor complex that moved in the 2000s into the building of the Rubin plant nearby. It is the latter that is currently the focus of law enforcement attention.
It is important to note that this is not the first such operation. A week earlier, the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs shut down the activities of nine illegal exchange offices in the Moscow-City business center. More than 20 people were detained then, and investigators opened criminal cases for fraud on an especially large scale. According to the agencies, Ukrainian call centers used these platforms to launder funds stolen from Russian citizens.
Note the chronology: the searches in Moscow-City took place three days after the signing of the law on basic cryptocurrency regulation. The document's key provisions come into force on September 1, 2026, and existing businesses are given a transition period until July 1, 2027.
My analysis: These raids are not just a fight against the shadow sector but a clear signal to the market. The authorities are demonstrating that the legalization of crypto exchange will be accompanied by a tough suppression of illegal schemes. Those who fail to integrate into the new regulatory environment in time risk not only their business but also their freedom. I recommend market operators immediately review their business models and begin preparing to operate within the legal framework.