In recent developments, Anatoly Legkodymov, the co-founder of the cryptocurrency platform Bitzlato, has formally requested a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. This appeal comes in the wake of Legkodymov’s arrest for allegedly running an unregistered money transmitting operation through his platform, which has sparked considerable debate within the crypto-community.
After his arrest in early 2023, Legkodymov pleaded guilty to the charges of operating an unlicensed business, leading to a ruling in July 2024 where he was sentenced to time served after spending 18 months in detention at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
The Motivation Behind the Pardon Request
On July 11, a report from a notable Russian news source highlighted that Legkodymov’s appeal for a federal pardon was communicated through Ivan Melnikov, a prominent figure in the International Committee for Human Rights. This maneuver is believed to be partly motivated by ongoing attempts from French authorities for his extradition.
Legkodymov faces potential extradition to France, where he could confront similar accusations related to his operations with Bitzlato. The stakes are high, with French laws allowing for imprisonment of up to 20 years for those implicated in facilitating substantial financial transfers associated with cyber crimes.
Melnikov stated:
Anatoly Legkodymov is not a criminal figure; instead, he has become a pawn in a larger political narrative that targets the cryptocurrency sector and innovative individuals in Russia. His request for a pardon reflects his aspiration for the U.S. to adopt a more equitable stance on digital currencies and to hopefully foster dialogue between the U.S. and Russia.
This tactical decision to seek a pardon appears calculated, as Trump has granted approximately 58 pardons since assuming the presidency. Among them, the case of Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road’s founder, gained significant attention as he was facing two life sentences prior to his pardon.
Trump’s Affinity for the Crypto Sector?
Ross Ulbricht is merely one example among various crypto personalities who have been granted clemency by Trump. In fact, four executives from the now-closed crypto exchange BitMEX—Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, Gregory Dwyer, and Samuel Reed—also benefited from presidential pardons.
In an interesting twist, former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao requested a pardon from Trump after completing a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice. Furthermore, recent speculations indicate that Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the collapsed FTX platform, is also working toward securing a pardon.
