Roman Sterlingov | FinTelegram News

Tag: Roman Sterlingov

November 11, 2024

Crypto Crime: Bitcoin Fog Operator Sentenced to 12-Year Prison Term for Darknet Money Laundering!

Roman Sterlingov, dual Russian-Swedish national and operator of Bitcoin Fog, sentenced to over 12 years in prison for running the darknet’s longest-lasting bitcoin mixer, laundering over $400 million in criminal proceeds. A jury found Sterlingov guilty of money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and money transmission without a license.

August 17, 2024

Bitcoin Fog Founder Pleads for Leniency Following Conviction: A Legal Perspective

Roman Sterlingov, the founder of the cryptocurrency mixing service Bitcoin Fog, is seeking a reduced sentence after being convicted of money laundering and related charges. In a recent filing, Sterlingov's legal team argued that the government’s proposed sentence of 20 to 30 years in prison is disproportionately harsh, especially when compared to similar cases within the digital currency sphere.

August 13, 2024

The Latest Crypto-Related Money Laundering Cases and Some Insights!

With the rise of blockchains and cryptocurrencies, their use for money laundering has also increased massively and has become a massive challenge for the authorities. Recent money laundering cases involving cryptocurrencies have highlighted the growing challenges and complexities associated with digital currencies in illicit activities. Here are some notable cases and insights into the role of cryptocurrencies in money laundering.

March 13, 2024

Russian-Swedish Bitcoin Fog Operator Convicted of Money Laundering Conspiracy!

In another crypto case that marks a significant stride in the battle against cybercrime, Roman Sterlingov, a dual Russian-Swedish national, was found guilty by a federal jury in Washington, D.C., for operating the notorious darknet cryptocurrency “Mixer” and laundering $400M in cryptocurrency since 2011. The conviction underscores a stark warning to cybercriminals: the digital shadows will no longer shield illicit financial activities from the law's reach.

The Unraveling of Rabidi and the Rise of the SoftSwiss Network: Our Updated Forensic Report

A few months ago, FinTelegram released a first forensic report on the bankruptcy of Rabidi N.V., a Curacao-registered online casino operator with hundreds of millions in revenues — and no traceable assets by the time of its collapse in May 2024. That report already raised serious questions about the opaque structures behind Rabidi’s operations and its successor, Liernin Enterprises Ltd.

DeFi Decoded: Smart Contracts – The Code Behind the DeFi Revolution

Smart contracts are the invisible architects of decentralized finance. These self-executing lines of code run everything from token swaps to lending platforms without middlemen. But while they offer autonomy, they also introduce new risks—bugs, exploits, and irreversible mistakes. In this fourth installment of our FinTelegram DeFi Series, we explain what smart contracts are.

CFTC

Despite New Crypto Friendlyness: No Settlement Between U.S. CFTC And KuCoin?

A planned settlement between the U.S.CFTC and crypto exchange KuCoin is now in limbo due to a reported policy shift within the CFTC. This change is attributed to the Trump administration’s new approach, which deprioritizes enforcement actions against crypto companies. As a result, a CFTC attorney said that it is "unlikely that such authorization will be granted in the near term" regarding the settlement approval.

SEC’s New Era: Paul Atkins Sworn In—Will Crypto Finally Get the Regulatory Clarity It Deserves?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has entered a new chapter with the swearing-in of Paul S. Atkins as its 34th Chairman, a move widely anticipated to mark a dramatic pivot in how the agency approaches crypto and DeFi regulation. For years, the financial industry—especially the burgeoning digital asset sector—has bristled under the SEC’s “Regulation by Enforcement” strategy.

Crypto Mogul Changpeng Zhao – Fallen, Rich, and Rising Again?

As spring 2025 blooms and Easter’s themes of rebirth fill the air, Changpeng Zhao emerges as one of the most controversial figures of startup mythology: a man who fell spectacularly, paid a price—then rose again, wealthier and louder than ever. Once the almighty architect of Binance, CZ now resides in Dubai with a net worth that Forbes estimates at $63 billion.