Criminal law confiscation of cryptocurrencies: some problems of law-enforcement practice

Abstract

The article discusses the problems of classifying cryptocurrencies as property subject to confiscation in accordance with Chapter 15.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Despite the controversial nature of the possibility of foreclosure on cryptocurrencies, the amendments made to Article 104.1 of the Criminal Code by Federal Law No. 214-FZ of June 13th, 2023, expand the cases of confiscation in cases of crimes in the field of computer information (Chapter 28 of the Criminal Code), which, as a rule, involve the use of cryptocurrencies. The highest court in the new version of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated June 14, 2018 No. 17 “On some issues related to the use of confiscation of property in criminal proceedings” dated 12.12.2023 provides a number of provisions that allow us to judge the expansion of the possibility of using the confiscation of cryptocurrencies. The emerging heterogeneous judicial practice allows for various options for the confiscation of cryptocurrencies, depending on the specifics of the electronic medium and various features of storing cryptocurrencies. The lack of both regulatory and technical support for the execution of the confiscation of cryptocurrencies makes it difficult to effectively confiscate cryptocurrencies and achieve the goals of criminal proceedings, which requires amendments to the current legislation of the criminal cycle.