Local outlets RBK and Kommersant reported a BitRiver CEO arrest involving Igor Runets, the founder and chief executive of BitRiver. The reports said authorities detained Runets and filed tax evasion charges linked to alleged tax concealment.
The outlets cited court documents from the Zamoskvoretsky Court in Moscow. Those documents said the court ordered house arrest for Igor Runets. The reports said the court made that decision on Saturday.
The same reporting said investigators detained Runets on Friday. It also said he faces three charges tied to alleged tax concealment. The reports described the case as focused on allegedly concealing assets to evade taxes.
The reports also described the appeal timeline. They said Runets’ legal team has a narrow window to challenge the house arrest decision. They said the window closes before Wednesday, when the order becomes fully enforceable.
If the appeal fails, the restriction remains in place. If no appeal is filed, the same outcome applies. In that situation, the reports said Runets stays home bound for the duration of the case.
Cointelegraph said it contacted Igor Runets for comment. The report did not include a reply. It also referenced a 2020 photo of Runets at the Russian Arab Business Council Forum.
BitRiver tax concealment case adds to pressure from sanctions, client exit, and lawsuits
The reports placed the BitRiver CEO arrest in the context of BitRiver’s recent business strain. BitRiver started in 2017 and grew in Russian Bitcoin mining, according to the same coverage. The reports said it operates large scale facilities and Siberia data centers that also host mining for other companies.
In late 2024, Bloomberg reported that Igor Runets had a net worth near $230 million from crypto mining activity. That figure appeared in the reporting as part of his public profile. The current case now centers on the alleged tax concealment described by RBK and Kommersant.
BitRiver has also faced limits since 2022. The report said the US Treasury sanctions 2022 targeted BitRiver in mid year. The story linked those sanctions to the Russia and Ukraine conflict.
Then, in May 2023, the report said a major client stepped away. It said Japanese banking group SBI stopped using BitRiver infrastructure for Bitcoin mining. The report tied the SBI move to SBI’s withdrawal from Russia during the ongoing conflict.
Kommersant also described cost pressure inside the company. It reported that BitRiver began cost cuts and reduced activity toward the end of 2024. It also claimed the company delayed salary payments to employees during that period.
The reports then pointed to legal disputes in 2025. They said the electricity provider Infrastructure of Siberia filed two lawsuits in early 2025. The claims alleged the provider paid BitRiver under an equipment purchase contract. They also alleged the provider never received the equipment.
The new Zamoskvoretsky Court case now runs alongside those reported pressures. The house arrest order keeps Igor Runets at home while the tax evasion charges proceed, according to the cited court materials.
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Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: February 2, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: February 2, 2026
