St. Petersburg Robbery at Yzex Cryptocurrency Exchange: 21-Year-Old Detained After Fake Grenade Attempt to Steal Crypto Assets

St. Petersburg police arrested a 21-year-old resident from the Leningrad Region on November 22 after a failed attempt to rob a cryptocurrency exchange. According to authorities, the assailant breached the premises with two fake hand grenades and sought to seize cryptocurrency assets.

The suspect allegedly detonated the improvised devices and released smoke, then demanded staff transfer all exchange holdings to his personal wallet. He was apprehended at the counter; no injuries were reported.

Bomb disposal teams were deployed as a precaution, and investigators found no active explosives. The man remains in custody, facing charges under Article 162 of the Russian Criminal Code for robbery.

Authorities did not disclose the exchange’s name; local map data point to a building linked to the cryptoplatform Yzex, though officials have not publicly confirmed the listing.