加密貨幣幫助俄羅斯在製裁中收購無人機，引發危險訊號

據報道，俄羅斯特工安德烈·茲韋列夫(Andrey Zverev) 使用Tether (USDT) 促成了數百萬美元的交易，為俄羅斯領先的武器製造商卡拉什尼科夫康採恩(Kalashnikov Concern) 獲取無人機零件。儘管受到國際制裁，茲韋列夫還是繞過了這些措施，強調了執行這些措施的漏洞以及 Tether 在受制裁貿易中的作用，到 2023 年，貿易總額將超過 10 兆美元。

Cryptocurrency Facilitates Russian Drone Purchases Amid Sanctions, Raising Concerns

制裁期間加密貨幣促進俄羅斯無人機購買，引發擔憂

Introduction:

介紹：

Andrey Zverev, a purported Russian operative based in China, has allegedly played a pivotal role in facilitating illicit financial transactions on behalf of Kalashnikov Concern, Russia's premier small arms manufacturer. Employing the cryptocurrency Tether (USDT/USD), Zverev purportedly transferred millions of dollars to secure electronic components integral to Russia's drone arsenal against Ukrainian defenses, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

安德烈·茲韋列夫 (Andrey Zverev) 據稱是駐華俄羅斯特工，據稱在代表俄羅斯最大的小型武器製造商卡拉什尼科夫企業促進非法金融交易方面發揮了關鍵作用。根據《華爾街日報》報道，茲維列夫據稱使用加密貨幣Tether（USDT/USD）轉移了數百萬美元，以確保俄羅斯無人機武器庫中不可或缺的電子元件免受烏克蘭防禦的影響。

Circumventing Sanctions:

規避制裁：

In late 2022, Kalashnikov, renowned worldwide for its AK-47 rifle, sought Zverev's expertise to bypass international sanctions and procure critical drone components from a Hong Kong distributor. Despite heightened efforts by the United States to impede such transactions, Zverev utilized Tether to complete the transaction surreptitiously.

2022 年底，以其 AK-47 步槍聞名於世的卡拉什尼科夫尋求茲維列夫的專業知識，以繞過國際制裁，並從香港經銷商處採購關鍵的無人機零件。儘管美國加大力度阻止此類交易，茲維列夫還是利用 Tether 秘密完成了交易。

Tether's Role:

泰達幣的作用：

This incident epitomizes the utilization of cryptocurrency to facilitate sanctioned trade, a trend that is not isolated. The report suggests that Tether was instrumental in executing transactions exceeding $10 trillion in 2023 alone. The digital currency's involvement in Russian trade, particularly in the procurement of dual-use components crucial for military equipment, underscores a significant loophole in the enforcement of international sanctions.

這一事件集中體現了利用加密貨幣來促進受制裁的貿易，這一趨勢並不是孤立的。該報告表明，Tether 僅在 2023 年就執行了超過 10 兆美元的交易。數位貨幣參與俄羅斯貿易，特別是對軍事裝備至關重要的兩用部件的採購，凸顯了國際制裁執行的重大漏洞。

Call for Regulation:

呼籲監管：

Recognizing this loophole, the U.S. Treasury Department has implored Congress to grant it authority to regulate transactions involving U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins like Tether. This call to action followed the department's targeting of a Moscow-based company for providing Tether-based payment solutions to a sanctioned Russian bank, highlighting the urgency in addressing this regulatory void.

在意識到這一漏洞後，美國財政部懇求國會授權其監管涉及 Tether 等以美元計價的穩定幣的交易。在此呼籲之前，該部門針對一家總部位於莫斯科的公司向一家受制裁的俄羅斯銀行提供基於 Tether 的支付解決方案進行了調查，突顯了解決這一監管空白的緊迫性。

Tether's Response:

泰達幣的回應：

Tether Holdings, the issuer of the stablecoin, has implemented a voluntary policy to freeze transactions linked to sanctioned entities. However, despite these measures, the utility of Tether in circumnavigating sanctions remains a critical concern, with the U.S. Treasury emphasizing Russia's increasing reliance on alternative payment mechanisms to sustain its military campaign in Ukraine.

穩定幣發行人 Tether Holdings 實施了一項自願政策，凍結與受制裁實體相關的交易。然而，儘管採取了這些措施，Tether 在規避制裁方面的效用仍然是一個關鍵問題，美國財政部強調俄羅斯越來越依賴替代支付機制來維持其在烏克蘭的軍事行動。

Investigative Insight:

調查洞察：

This account, corroborated by interviews and Telegram chat messages involving brokers and importers, offers a glimpse into the clandestine world of international trade where cryptocurrencies exert a pivotal influence.

該報告得到了涉及經紀人和進口商的採訪和 Telegram 聊天消息的證實，讓我們一睹加密貨幣發揮關鍵影響力的國際貿易秘密世界。

Future Implications:

未來的影響：

The ongoing use of digital currencies like Tether in sanctioned trade is poised to be a focal point at Benzinga's forthcoming Future of Digital Assets conference, scheduled for November 19th. Industry experts will grapple with the complexities of regulating digital assets while nurturing innovation.

Tether 等數位貨幣在受制裁貿易中的持續使用有望成為 Benzinga 即將於 11 月 19 日舉行的數位資產未來會議的焦點。行業專家將在培育創新的同時應對監管數位資產的複雜性。

Conclusion:

結論：

The illicit use of cryptocurrency to facilitate Russian drone purchases amidst sanctions raises fundamental concerns about the efficacy of international sanctions and the need for robust regulation of digital assets. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the scrutiny of cryptocurrency's role in funding military activities is expected to intensify, demanding vigilant oversight and stringent enforcement measures.

在製裁期間非法使用加密貨幣促進俄羅斯無人機購買引發了人們對國際制裁的有效性以及對數位資產進行強有力監管的必要性的根本擔憂。隨著烏克蘭衝突的持續，對加密貨幣在資助軍事活動方面的作用的審查預計將加強，需要警惕的監督和嚴格的執法措施。