Russia Employs Bitcoin to Recruit Teen Spies in Hybrid War

Laken Pavan, a Canadian teenager, was recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in Russian-occupied Donetsk in 2024 to conduct espionage activities in Europe. The FSB used Bitcoin payments, routed through complex wallets, to fund Pavan’s travels and compensate him, reflecting a broader trend of Russia employing young, untrained spies incentivized with cryptocurrency. After running low on funds in Copenhagen, Pavan contacted his handler, 'Slon,' who sent him Bitcoin, enabling Pavan to travel to Warsaw where he ultimately turned himself in to Polish authorities and pleaded guilty to aiding Russian intelligence. Pavan was sentenced to 20 months in a Polish prison, highlighting the seriousness of these espionage activities despite his youth and lack of evidence showing he passed sensitive information. This case exposes Russia's strategy of hybrid warfare, employing vulnerable individuals and digital currency to bypass traditional financial sanctions and destabilize European security. The recruitment of youth like Pavan underscores evolving threats requiring European security agencies to adapt to new espionage tactics.