{
  "id": "case-bitzlato-hydra",
  "slug": "us-v-legkodymov-bitzlato",
  "title": "U.S. v. Anatoly Legkodymov (Bitzlato Cryptocurrency Laundering)",
  "summary": "Founder of Hong Kong-registered cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato charged with laundering over $700 million in ransomware and darknet market illicit proceeds, serving as a primary financial conduit for Hydra Market.",
  "case_number": "1:23-cr-00021",
  "court": "U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York",
  "district": "E.D.N.Y.",
  "country": "United States",
  "opened_at": "2023-01-17",
  "status": "sentenced",
  "victim_sector": "Cryptocurrency, Financial Services",
  "victim_country": "United States, Russia, France",
  "loss_amount_usd": 700000000,
  "loss_amount_note": "Processed over $4.58 billion in crypto transactions, with at least $700 million directly tied to darknet contraband and ransomware proceeds.",
  "first_seen_at": "2018-05-01T00:00:00Z",
  "last_updated_at": "2026-09-03T16:00:00Z",
  "actor_slug": "bitzlato",
  "defendant_slugs": [
    "anatoly-legkodymov"
  ],
  "cves": [],
  "techniques": [
    {
      "technique_id": "T1090",
      "evidence_excerpt": "Bitzlato operated with negligible anti-money laundering controls, advertising that users could open accounts with no identity verification via Tor.",
      "evidence_locator": "Plea Agreement \u00b6 6, Page 7",
      "mapping_status": "reviewed",
      "mapped_by": "rule",
      "source_title": "Plea Agreement: U.S. v. Legkodymov",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/founder-and-majority-owner-bitzlato-pleads-guilty-unlicensed-money-transmitting",
      "technique_name": "Proxy",
      "tactic": "Command and Control"
    }
  ],
  "events": [
    {
      "event_type": "arrest",
      "event_date": "2023-01-17",
      "description": "Legkodymov arrested in Miami by FBI agents in coordinated international operation."
    },
    {
      "event_type": "plea",
      "event_date": "2023-12-06",
      "description": "Defendant pleads guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business."
    },
    {
      "event_type": "sentencing",
      "event_date": "2024-07-18",
      "description": "Sentenced to time served (18 months) and ordered to forfeit all interest in Bitzlato ($23 million)."
    }
  ]
}