Alexander Vinnik, the Russian co-founder of an allegedly illicit crypto exchange, BTC-e, is seeking release by way of a deal known as a “prisoner swap.”
According to a May 24 report from the Wall Street Journal, Vinnik’s lawyer is attempting to alter a protective order on Vinnik’s case, so that he can be considered as part of a prisoner trade deal between Russia and the United States, which could see him “swapped” for detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich.