Poker Pro Stefan Burakov Accuses Ex-Girlfriend of $3M Crypto Theft

Russian high-stakes poker player Stefan “stefan11222” Burakov has accused his ex-girlfriend, Alena Mironenko, of stealing $3 million in cryptocurrency. The accusation, made in a discussion thread on the Russian poker forum GypsyTeam, suggests that the alleged theft occurred two years ago when Burakov inadvertently provided access to his crypto wallet’s seed phrase through an iPad.

Burakov Admits to Security Lapse That Allowed Ex-Girlfriend to Access His Crypto Wallet

Burakov, a well-known figure in the online poker community, disclosed that the seed phrase — a crucial piece of information for accessing a cryptocurrency wallet — was stored on the device he handed to Mironenko. The seed phrase is typically a sequence of random words generated by a wallet’s software that must be kept secure. According to Burakov, this lapse in security allowed Mironenko to gain unauthorized access to his digital assets.

In his forum posts, Burakov took responsibility for his mistake, admitting that he had given the iPad containing the seed phrase to Mironenko. He expressed regret over the situation but also claimed that the incident had a silver lining, as it taught him valuable lessons and ultimately made him stronger. Burakov mentioned that he had considered taking more drastic measures to recover the stolen funds but ultimately decided against it, indicating a sense of restraint in the matter.

Mironenko responded to the allegations the following day, vehemently denying any involvement in the theft. She pointed out that multiple individuals had access to devices containing the seed phrase image and claimed that she had warned Burakov about this vulnerability. Additionally, Mironenko suggested that another person named by Burakov, Maxim Shatilov, was also not involved in the incident.

Burakov Teases Unfolding Drama

The public nature of this dispute has attracted significant attention within the poker and cryptocurrency communities. While Burakov has implied that there is more to the story, he has yet to provide additional details. In one of his follow-up posts, he cryptically suggested that there would be further developments, likening the situation to a poker game where the “preflop” has been played, but several rounds of betting remain before the showdown.

Stefan “stefan11222” Burakov is a prominent figure in the online poker world, particularly known for his prowess in high-stakes cash games. Originating from Russia, b has earned a reputation as one of the most daring and unconventional players in the poker scene, often making bold moves that defy standard strategies. 

His fearless approach has led to significant success, including numerous victories in prestigious online poker tournaments and cash games. Burakov is celebrated for his ability to read opponents and exploit weaknesses, which has allowed him to accumulate substantial winnings and solidify his status as a top-tier poker player.