Aleksey Muratov, founder of the cryptocurrency scheme Prizm, has been quietly funding a Russian-backed separatist government in eastern Ukraine. This revelation comes from a report by the Centre of Information Resilience (CIR), a non-profit organization that tracks disinformation and financial crimes. Muratov has a long history of operating Ponzi schemes, including a leadership role in MMM Global, a successor to one of Russia's largest financial frauds.
CIR's April 5th report, titled "The Separatist's Guide to Circumventing Sanctions," details Muratov's deep ties to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The report identifies him as holding a leadership position within the DPR's government. This connection is further solidified by the fact that Denis Pushilin, the current head of the DPR, previously served as a regional representative for MMM Global. Muratov and his associate Kramar reportedly featured Pushilin in their media outlet, 1Infa, during Pushilin's rise through the DPR ranks.
Muratov's fraudulent activities began years ago. Indian authorities arrested him in 2013 in connection with MMM Global fraud. Details surrounding his escape remain unclear. Upon his return to Moscow, he established 1Infa. This media organization actively promoted separatist narratives during the 2014 conflict in eastern Ukraine. Muratov and Kramar were presented as First Deputy Heads of the "Donetsk Republic" movement.
Leaked emails from 2018, reportedly from Putin aide Vladimir Surkov, suggest Muratov harbored ambitions beyond propaganda. In 2014, he proposed "Operation Troy" to the Kremlin, a clandestine influence campaign aimed at expanding the conflict westward. The proposal outlined a budget of $181,000 for activities such as funding protests, bribing Ukrainian officials, and acquiring vehicles. This plan apparently did not receive approval, and 1Infa ceased operations by 2016.
As his propaganda efforts waned, Muratov continued his involvement in financial fraud. MMM Global collapsed in 2016, the same year Muratov shifted his focus to other cryptocurrency Ponzi schemes. CIR links him to E-Dinar and OneCoin, the latter of which defrauded investors of billions. Muratov attended a OneCoin business conference in Bangkok in 2016, lending his presence to a scheme now recognized as one of history's most significant financial frauds.
Muratov's career path illustrates the complex intersection of organized crime, geopolitical interference, and financial scams. He has transitioned from leading pyramid schemes to financing separatist governments and promoting current cryptocurrency frauds.
Victims of Prizm and similar schemes are advised to report their losses to their local financial regulatory bodies and consider consulting with legal counsel specializing in fraud recovery.