Police investigate illegal cryptocurrency trading worth UZS 2.8 billion

According to the Jizzakh Regional Department of Internal Affairs, officers examined two mobile phones belonging to the suspect, a Tajik national who has been conducting business activities in Tashkent since 2021.

The inspection found that both devices were linked to the same electronic wallet registered through a single email address. Investigators said an analysis of the cryptocurrency application used to store, receive and transfer digital assets revealed that the suspect had illegally exchanged cryptoassets with a total value of UZS 2.8 billion through the wallet.

A criminal case has been opened under Paragraph "a", Part 3 of Article 278-8 of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code, which covers violations of legislation governing the circulation of cryptoassets committed on an especially large scale. The offense carries a prison sentence of three to five years. The investigation is ongoing.

Under Uzbekistan's legislation, the purchase, sale and exchange of cryptoassets are permitted only through licensed cryptoasset service providers.