FxNews—Valeria Fedyakina, known online as the “Queen of Crypto,” has been detained after allegedly scamming £17 million. Authorities claim she intended to support the Ukrainian military with the funds. Currently pregnant, Fedyakina faces accusations in a Moscow detention center.
Year-Long Investigation into Putin Adversary
The allegations against her stem from a pyramid scheme involving four victims over two months in 2023. Despite her legal team’s denial of any wrongdoing, the police have been investigating her for a year, provoked by claims from the Kremlin that she diverted funds to Ukraine, an enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Bitmama: Luring Investors with Cryptocurrency Promises
Fedyakina, who marketed herself as a cryptocurrency expert under the nickname Bitmama, is said to have attracted investors through promises of high returns on cryptocurrency investments.
According to police reports, she claimed to manage global offices in several cities, including Moscow and Dubai. She reportedly convinced investors to transfer money through her to avoid banking restrictions, promising a one percent bonus on these transfers, which she claimed would be converted into cryptocurrency.
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Pregnant Woman Valeria Fedyakina Jailed for Alleged Ukraine Aid
However, the funds reportedly vanished after being sent. Authorities now believe she was channeling the money to support Ukrainian forces against Russia. Fedyakina was arrested while attempting to leave Russia for the United Arab Emirates.
She was six months pregnant at the time of her arrest and temporarily released only to give birth, after which she was returned to jail. The charges against her are expected to be formalized in November. If convicted, she could receive a sentence of up to 10 years.
In a separate but related incident, another young woman, Viktoria Mukhametova, was sentenced to over 12 years for allegedly providing Ukraine with military intelligence.
