The Federal Police registered a 300% increase in investigations involving cryptoactives between 2020 and 2021. “And in the investigations, in a short period of time, we seized R$ 1.5 billion”, according to Aline Pedrini, Delegate for the Repression of Financial Crimes of the Police Federal. The statement took place this morning (27) at the public hearing of the Chamber of Deputies on the matter.
To exemplify the increase in crimes with cryptoactives, the delegate also cited a study by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) on crime news that the institution sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2019 and 2020. There were 305 thousand, 75% with evidence of financial pyramids and 43% regarding pyramids involving cryptoactives.
According to Celso Luis Serra, CVM’s attorney, pyramids are not new. It turns out that now they are on a national scale through national networks and involve cryptoactives as well. And to complete the problem, the law that establishes a crime of six months to two years in prison is from 1951. Thus, “it is very simple for the seriousness that this can reach today. Especially with the effect of social media”. Apart from the fact that it is a crime prosecuted at the state level, when it is now national.
For him, the fight against crimes with cryptoactives needs to consider financial education, which is something for the long term. In addition, it is necessary to update the criminal law – something that bill 2305/15 seeks to do -, and a centralized channel and monitoring.
The public hearing is taking place right now.
*Report being updated.