{"id":74198,"date":"2023-10-18T21:15:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T01:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/markets\/crypto\/russias-crypto-queen-sent-coins-to-ukraine\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T21:15:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T01:15:32","slug":"russias-crypto-queen-sent-coins-to-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=74198","title":{"rendered":"Russia\u2019s \u2018Crypto Queen\u2019 \u2018Sent Coins to Ukraine\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Russian police think that a \u201ccrypto influencer\u201d known as Bitmama, aka the \u201cQueen of Crypto,\u201d may have sent tokens to support Ukraine\u2019s military.<\/p>\n

Valeria \u201cBitmama\u201d Fedyakina was detained by police in September after an \u201cacquaintance\u201d accused her of fraud.<\/p>\n

She remains in custody, and a news network released an image, apparently showing her in a pre-trial detention center.<\/p>\n

Per the Telegram-based news channel SHOT and News.ru, the social media influencer, who is seven months pregnant, had asked a court to transfer her to house arrest.<\/p>\n

But she was refused this request.<\/p>\n

Officers consider her a flight risk, as she holds a UAE residence permit.<\/p>\n

A branch of the Moscow City Court ruled that she could remain in custody until November 15.<\/p>\n

The unnamed \u201cacquaintance\u201d told police Fedyakina tricked him into handing over some $70 million.<\/p>\n

But officers reportedly think Fedyakina, a 28-year-old originally from Ukraine, embezzled this money.<\/p>\n

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And they reportedly think Fedyakina transferred \u201cpart\u201d of the money she received to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Officers also believe Fedyakina received around $7.7 million from two other individuals, before \u201cdropping off the radar.\u201d<\/p>\n

All three people said they wanted to use the money to invest in real estate in the UAE.<\/p>\n

Russian \u2018Crypto Queen\u2019 Lawyers Say She \u2018Doesn\u2019t Support Ukraine\u2019<\/h2>\n

Fedyakina positioned herself as a sanctions-evading mastermind who could use crypto to transfer money overseas unhindered by banking restrictions.<\/p>\n

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She celebrated various media articles that dubbed her the \u201cqueen of crypto\u201d and the \u201cqueen of crypto exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n

The investors said \u201cBitmama\u201d told them she would return their stakes, plus 1% in profits if they gave her the money.<\/p>\n

The media outlets quoted Fedyakina\u2019s legal team as stating that she actually \u201csupports\u201d Russia\u2019s \u201cSpecial Military Operation\u201d in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

The team added that Fedyakina is actually \u201cready to donate funds to the [Russian] military.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lawyers claim that Fedyakina will be separated from her child after giving birth if she is not released.<\/p>\n

The legal team claimed that their client was being framed, stating that she \u201cwithdrew money on behalf of her clients,\u201d but was never repaid.<\/p>\n

Russian law enforcement agencies have swooped on suspected crypto donors to Ukraine, with offenders receiving heavy punishment.<\/p>\n

In June, a citizen in the Far Eastern territory of Khabarovsk Krai was detained by the FSB, Russia\u2019s intelligence service, and charged with treason after allegedly sending coins to the Ukrainian military.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n