BitRiver founder Igor Runets moved to pretrial detention in Russia mining fraud probe

The founder of Russia’s BitRiver, Igor Runets, has been moved to a pretrial detention facility amid a growing fraud investigation, according to multiple reports published on July 30, 2026 ^{[1] [2]}.

Reports describe the alleged case as involving approximately ₽1 billion in mining-equipment-related fraud claims, with one outlet also framing the matter as a $7.9 million fraud case. Separate coverage notes that Runets was already under house arrest in a separate January tax case and highlights related developments involving BitRiver’s corporate stakeholders ^{[2] [3] [4]}.

Runets’ detention marks an escalation in legal proceedings tied to BitRiver’s mining-equipment business, with the allegations and prior court-related steps detailed across the reports ^{[1] [2] [4]}.