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The U.S. Attorney’s Office has requested the extradition of 34-year-old Ryan James Roach, a resident of Saskatoon, Canada. He is accused of hacking into the computers of an American university for the purpose of cryptocurrency mining.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York claims that in 2017, Roach conspired with another Canadian from Ontario to gain unauthorized access to the computing resources of an unnamed U.S. university. According to the prosecution, Roach stole login credentials, installed malware, and hacked remote servers to access the computers. Authorities stated that the perpetrators utilized the university’s resources to mine Electroneum cryptocurrency.
As a result of the network breach and subsequent power shutdown, the educational institution incurred damages amounting to $337,000, which includes costs for conducting an investigation and restoring the damaged infrastructure, local media report.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation analyzed IP addresses, server logs, email accounts, and hosting records, tracing a digital footprint back to Roach. Investigators assert that there is sufficient evidence to support the request for the Canadian’s extradition to the United States.
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In December 2025, Roach was apprehended by Canadian police; however, he was released on bail last month. The court deemed that detention was too harsh for an individual with no prior convictions, especially since the charges relate to events from eight years ago. Nevertheless, the court imposed restrictions on Roach’s use of internet-connected devices and prohibited contact with alleged accomplices.
Roach’s attorney, Patricia Farnese, stated that her client maintains his innocence. The Saskatoon court is set to review the extradition request for Roach to the U.S. The judge will need to assess whether the evidence of guilt presented by the U.S. prosecution meets the criteria for extradition and whether the alleged offenses provide sufficient grounds for charging the individual.
In Canada, conspiracy to unlawfully use computers can result in a sentence of up to 10 years. The extradition hearing for Roach is scheduled for April 3. If the judge approves, the final decision regarding the transfer of the Canadian to the U.S. will be made by Canada’s federal Minister of Justice.
A few years ago, Canadian regulators proposed to classify mining activities as securities transactions. In 2024, a court in British Columbia approved an 18-month moratorium suggested by local energy companies for mining operations.
