Billions from online casinos and darknet markets: how the crypto service RAKS Exchange withdrew funds through a Polish "shell"

Billions from online casinos and darknet markets: how the crypto service RAKS Exchange withdrew funds through a Polish "shell"

According to sources in the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, law enforcement officers from Kazakhstan and Ukraine are currently coordinating actions to identify participants of the criminal group associated with Vadym Hordiyevskyi and Ivan Shevchenko, as well as other possible members of the group.

According to interlocutors, Ivan Shevchenko may currently be in Europe — likely in Vienna or Bratislava. At the same time, he allegedly lived with his family in Almaty (Kazakhstan) for most of 2023. Other sources claim that Shevchenko permanently resides in Spain.

Ivan Shevchenko’s stay in Kazakhstan, according to law enforcement, could be related to the activities of one of the largest shadow crypto services in the CIS territory — RAKS Exchange (crypto exchanger Solveks). Kazakh law enforcement considers Ukrainian citizens Vadym Hordiyevskyi and Ivan Shevchenko as the organizers of this structure. According to their version, funds from online casinos and betting companies, including Pin-Up (Redcore), 1xBet, Mostbet, and over 200 darknet markets, were withdrawn through the Polish company «Stablex Solution Sp. z o.o.».

Among the assets associated with Vadym Hordiyevskyi, sources mention property rights to a two-room apartment No. 30 in a residential complex in the village of Kryukovshchyna, Kyiv region. This is an apartment with an area of 61.71 sq. m within the project «Construction of a residential block of multi-apartment buildings with an incomplete service complex».

Also mentioned in the materials is a gray 2018 Hyundai Accent car with license plate AA 2876 XI, which was allegedly sold in 2025. In addition, sources report possible ownership of a non-residential office space of 90 sq. m in Kyiv on Mishugi Street, 10, in the Parallel shopping mall. According to interlocutors, the property could have been registered to another person.

Separately, sources in Ukrainian law enforcement report that Ivan Shevchenko received income through a number of banking institutions in different years, including:

• Joint Stock Company «BTA Bank» — in 2013, declared income of 12,394 UAH;
• Joint Stock Company «Prominvestbank» — during 2013–2015;
•  Joint Stock Company «UkrSibbank» — in 2016, declared 76,053 UAH, in 2017 — 36,273 UAH;
• Joint Stock Company «First Ukrainian International Bank» — in 2018, declared income of 170,429 UAH.

It is also noted that Shevchenko was associated with LLC «Payments Online» (EDRPOU 38150149), known under the brand PSP Platon. The company operates in the field of internet acquiring, provides payment acceptance via bank cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, and is a subsidiary structure of the Dutch holding HowPeoplePay.