Alexander Vinnik is a Russian hacker and a computer expert, who willingly works for the BTC-e, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange, who allegedly uses digital currency to launder money for cybercriminals. Recently, he has been in trending news highlights for his money laundering and has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in France.
Early Life
Alexander Vinnik was born in the year 1979 in Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast, and holds Russian Citizenship. Vinnik didn’t share information regarding his parents’ identity. He is a computer expert and a hacker, and revealing his personal details could cause harm to his family. So, no traits regarding his past life have been mentioned anywhere in the source.
Talking about educational information, Vinnik must be a brilliant student as he has a sharp mind, and can handle computers. He might have graduated with a degree related to computers and might have attended hacking classes, as his interest shows the same.
Alexander Vinnik Career
From an early age, Alexander had a deep interest in computers, gaming, and technology. Starting in 2011, he became associated with BTC-e, a cryptocurrency exchange, where he served as a director and supervisor for operations and finances until 2017. However, allegations and charges related to malfunctioning arose, leading to his departure.
Reports from Elliptic, a London-based cryptocurrency analysis firm, revealed BTC-e’s connection to Fancy Bear during the 2015-16 ‘Democratic National Committee Cyber-attacks.’ While some charges against Alexander were dropped on June 28, 2020, he still faces a standing sentence.
Controversies
In 2016, while on a family vacation in Greece, a Swedish software engineer named Kim Nilsson accused Alexander Vinnik of being linked to the missing bitcoins from Mt. Gox. Subsequently, Vinnik faced arrest in the US, accused of aiding criminals in bypassing KYC/AML policies.
He was also alleged for engaging in illegal money trading, resulting in significant losses for Mt. Gox and its clientele. In 2019, Nobuaki Kobayashi’s office, representing Mt. Gox’s creditors, disclosed an ongoing collaboration with the US Department of Justice to collect evidence against Vinnik.
Alexander vehemently maintained his innocence, asserting that he lacked knowledge of criminal activities and was unjustly accused by Mt. Gox. He sought extradition, but Russia criticized the process as unjust and a violation of international law, leading to the extradition attempt being blocked.
Further Allegations
In 2018, Greek authorities discovered a plot to harm Vinnik in prison. He later revealed his guilt to Russian authorities. Later in 2020, he was extradited to France over accusations of laundering 133 million euros in Bitcoin. However, investigations revealed his likely innocence, attributing allegations to his nationality and cryptocurrency involvement.
The U.S. FBI suggested Vinnik’s contact with Russian hackers, though he wasn’t directly linked to election interference. On October 23, 2020, French prosecutors sentenced him to 10 years in prison, citing ties to cryptocurrency ransomware called Locky. Vinnik denied any involvement with Locky and maintained his innocence.
Alexander Vinnik Biography |
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| Real Name | Alexander Vinnik |
| Birth Date | 1979 |
| Age (as of 2021) | 42 Years |
| Birth Place | Kurgan, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Profession | Computer Expert |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun sign | Not Known |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 9” – in Centimeters – 175 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 65 kg – in Pounds – 143 lbs |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
Family |
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| Father | – |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Qualification/Education |
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| School | – |
| College | – |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Who is his wife? | – |
| Children | One |
Alexander Vinnik Wife
The hacker, Vinnik is pretty private for sharing his personal details with the media. No information about his earlier engagements or past relationships is recorded on the track. Nor it is known if he is currently involved or linked with someone or is married.
Alexander Vinnik Net Worth
While serving as a director and overseeing finances at BTC-e, Alexander likely earned a substantial income. However, due to the allegations and involvement in numerous controversies, his income has likely been significantly affected. Legal fees, fines, and the potential need for bail in light of the 5-year jail sentence would further impact his financial situation, causing substantial financial losses.
Trivia
- He faced many charges with extortion, aggravated money laundering, conspiracy, and harming automatic data-processing systems.
- In 2018, Alexander went on to protest for his detainment in Greece and started a hunger strike.
- On 7th December 2020, the Court sent Vinnik to 5-year imprisonment in France for his misconduct and for creating ‘Locky’ malware.
- His company received an allegation for seizing $90 million from WME Capital Management, a company registered with his name in New Zealand in 2020.
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