Former Bitzlato CEO Appeals to Trump for Pardon After Prison Release
According to Russian media reports, Legkodymov’s legal team has formally submitted the request, hoping Trump will reverse the charges tied to running an unlicensed money transmission business. He was arrested in early 2023, pleaded guilty later that year, and was released in mid-2024 after serving time in detention.
Russian human rights groups have called his prosecution politically motivated, portraying him as a scapegoat in the broader crackdown on crypto and Russian tech entrepreneurs. “This is a test of whether the U.S. will take a more balanced stance on digital finance,” said Ivan Melnikov, a rights advocate involved with the case.
Legkodymov’s exchange, Bitzlato, was accused by U.S. authorities of enabling the flow of illicit funds, including millions tied to ransomware attacks and the Hydra darknet marketplace. French authorities are reportedly seeking his extradition to face related charges abroad.
He joins a growing list of crypto figures seeking clemency from Trump. Since taking office in January, the president has pardoned Ross Ulbricht of Silk Road fame and several BitMEX executives. Former Binance CEO CZ and even Sam Bankman-Fried are also said to be pursuing similar appeals.
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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ July 12, 2025 6:00 pm