PANews reported on February 22 that according to News.bitcoin, citing TASS, the Russian Supreme Court is pushing for the classification of cryptocurrencies as property in criminal cases, aiming to strengthen the ability of law enforcement to track, freeze and confiscate illegal digital assets. The Supreme Court is participating in the drafting of a "legislative initiative aimed at treating digital currencies as property in criminal proceedings," a move that could strengthen the ability of law enforcement to deal with crypto-related crimes.

This is not the first time that Russia’s Supreme Court has addressed cryptocurrency in legal proceedings. In 2019, the court ruled that exchanging Bitcoin for rubles constitutes money laundering if the digital currency was obtained through illegal activities, especially in cases involving drug trafficking. The court’s ruling further indicated that cryptocurrencies may fall under the jurisdiction of existing anti-money laundering laws. Additionally, in 2021, the court ruled that WMZ, the electronic currency used in the Webmoney Transfer system, was legally recognized as an object of civil rights, setting a precedent for Russia’s legal treatment of digital assets. These early rulings indicate that the Supreme Court is working to incorporate cryptocurrencies into the country’s judicial framework.