加密货币帮助俄罗斯在制裁中收购无人机，引发危险信号

据报道，俄罗斯特工安德烈·兹韦列夫 (Andrey Zverev) 使用 Tether (USDT) 促成了数百万美元的交易，为俄罗斯领先的武器制造商卡拉什尼科夫康采恩 (Kalashnikov Concern) 获取无人机零部件。尽管受到国际制裁，兹韦列夫还是绕过了这些措施，强调了执行这些措施的漏洞以及 Tether 在受制裁贸易中的作用，到 2023 年，贸易总额将超过 10 万亿美元。

Cryptocurrency Facilitates Russian Drone Purchases Amid Sanctions, Raising Concerns

制裁期间加密货币促进俄罗斯无人机购买，引发担忧

Introduction:

介绍：

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·兹韦列夫 (Andrey Zverev) 据称是驻华俄罗斯特工，据称在代表俄罗斯最大的小武器制造商卡拉什尼科夫企业促进非法金融交易方面发挥了关键作用。据《华尔街日报》报道，兹维列夫据称使用加密货币 Tether（USDT/USD）转移了数百万美元，以确保俄罗斯无人机武器库中不可或缺的电子元件免受乌克兰防御的影响。

Circumventing Sanctions:

规避制裁：

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 步枪闻名于世的卡拉什尼科夫寻求兹维列夫的专业知识，以绕过国际制裁，并从香港经销商处采购关键的无人机部件。尽管美国加大力度阻止此类交易，兹维列夫还是利用 Tether 秘密完成了交易。

Tether's Role:

泰达币的作用：

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.

这一事件集中体现了利用加密货币来促进受制裁的贸易，这一趋势并不是孤立的。该报告表明，Tether 仅在 2023 年就执行了超过 10 万亿美元的交易。数字货币参与俄罗斯贸易，特别是对军事装备至关重要的两用部件的采购，凸显了国际制裁执行方面的重大漏洞。

Call for Regulation:

呼吁监管：

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.

认识到这一漏洞后，美国财政部恳求国会授权其监管涉及 Tether 等以美元计价的稳定币的交易。在此呼吁之前，该部门针对一家总部位于莫斯科的公司向一家受制裁的俄罗斯银行提供基于 Tether 的支付解决方案进行了调查，突显了解决这一监管空白的紧迫性。

Tether's Response:

泰达币的回应：

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.

稳定币发行人 Tether Holdings 实施了一项自愿政策，冻结与受制裁实体相关的交易。然而，尽管采取了这些措施，Tether 在规避制裁方面的效用仍然是一个关键问题，美国财政部强调俄罗斯越来越依赖替代支付机制来维持其在乌克兰的军事行动。

Investigative Insight:

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.

该报道得到了涉及经纪人和进口商的采访和 Telegram 聊天消息的证实，让我们得以一睹加密货币发挥着关键影响力的国际贸易秘密世界。

Future Implications:

未来的影响：

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 等数字货币在受制裁贸易中的持续使用有望成为 Benzinga 即将于 11 月 19 日举行的数字资产未来会议的焦点。行业专家将在培育创新的同时应对监管数字资产的复杂性。

Conclusion:

结论：

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.

在制裁期间非法使用加密货币促进俄罗斯无人机购买引发了人们对国际制裁的有效性以及对数字资产进行强有力监管的必要性的根本担忧。随着乌克兰冲突的持续，对加密货币在资助军事活动方面的作用的审查预计将加强，需要警惕的监督和严格的执法措施。