I just delved into the story of a Russian crypto guy, and honestly, this story looks like a classic example of double standards in the financial world. Alexey Andryunin founded Gotbit, a market-making company in the crypto sphere, and now he’s sitting in a defendant’s cage in the USA. But let’s figure out what really happened here.

Here’s what caught my attention in this situation. When JP Morgan laundered money for Mexican cartels, no one was arrested. When Deutsche Bank helped hide millions, judges weren’t in a rush to press charges. And a 26-year-old guy, who was engaged in market-making — a common practice on financial markets — suddenly becomes the number one criminal for American authorities.

Let’s look at the numbers. About $450 million went through Gotbit. The company worked with over 2000 projects, including major blockchain platforms and NFTs. Alexey Andryunin and his team officially helped startups create liquidity, improve trading charts, and make volumes healthier. This is standard market-making work. Yes, sometimes this service was used by scammers — but isn’t that old news in the financial world?

American authorities confiscated $23 million from Andryunin and now threaten him with up to 24 months in prison. But here’s what’s interesting: why are crypto entrepreneurs being prosecuted so aggressively, while bankers turn a blind eye?

I’m not saying Alexey Andryunin is completely innocent. But the system clearly applies different rules to different people. If you’re part of the financial elite — you’re allowed to do a lot. If you’re a young guy from Russia who learned how to move markets in crypto — welcome to an American prison. This isn’t justice. It’s a hunt for those who are outside the system.