HashFlare founders face deportation from the US despite court ruling
Date: 2025-04-21 Author: Henry Casey Categories: BUSINESS
Sergey Potapenko and Ivan Turygin, the men behind the cloud mining service HashFlare, have found themselves at the center of a new legal conflict. Despite a court ruling allowing them to remain in the US until the hearing, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unexpectedly demanded that they leave the country immediately, threatening criminal prosecution.
Recall that in November 2022, Potapenko and Turygin were detained in Estonia at the request of the FBI. They were charged with 18 counts, including fraud in the amount of $575 million and money laundering. In May 2024, they were extradited to the United States, where two months later the court ordered their release on bail on the condition that they remain within King County, Washington, until the main hearing scheduled for August 14, 2025.
However, as their lawyers reported, in early April, the entrepreneurs received alarming notices from the DHS. The letter contained a direct threat: “Leave the United States immediately. Do not try to stay - the federal services will find you.” Turygin received a similar letter on April 11, despite the efforts of the lawyers to resolve the misunderstanding by formally requesting an extension of their clients' stay.
The lawyers expressed concern about the situation, emphasizing that similar cases have already occurred in recent practice: “We and our clients see how immigration services make mistakes. People who should not be in custody are still there and even deported to countries where they cannot be deported.”
The lawyers have already filed a petition with federal judge Robert Lasnik, stating that if the conflict is not resolved diplomatically, they will request an additional hearing with the participation of DHS representatives.
Meanwhile, the case of Potapenko and Turygin remains one of the most high-profile examples of alleged abuse in the cryptocurrency sphere. They are accused of creating a fictitious mining scheme, defrauding investors, and transferring funds through offshore accounts.
The situation demonstrates the tension between the judiciary and immigration authorities in the United States and raises questions about the coherence of actions within the country's legal system.
