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Nexo Bitcoin Withdrawals Surge Following Raid of Bulgarian Offices
13.1.2023
After the offices of crypto lender Nexo were raided in Bulgaria, the digital currency lending platform experienced a significant amount of withdrawals starting Jan. 12, 2023. An archived snapshot of Nexo’s real-time attestation shows that the company held 133,263 bitcoin on that day. As...
Top 3 Macroeconomic Events to Watch in 2023 Amid Volatile Market Conditions
1.1.2023
2022 was a tough year for crypto assets, and as the world welcomes 2023, the macroeconomic backdrop remains uncertain. Macroeconomic events will continue to shape the crypto economy and the economy as a whole. This editorial takes a look at the top three macroeconomic events to keep an eye on...
Bank of Russia to Test International Crypto Payments With Companies
21.12.2022
The Central Bank of Russia plans to use cryptocurrency for cross-border payments in trials with private companies, a member of its top management has revealed. The testing will be conducted under a special legal regime that’s currently under development. Russia’s Central Bank to Explore Crypto...
US Treasury Charges Bittrex With Sanctions Violations, Crypto Exchange Agrees to Settle With Regulator
12.10.2022
On October 11, the U.S. Treasury department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it has settled charges with the cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex. The crypto exchange was accused of sanctions violations and failure...
Putin Threatens to Let Europe ‘Freeze’ — Russian President Warns ‘We Will Not Supply Gas, Oil, Coal, Heating Oil’
8.9.2022
Following the discussions concerning the inter-governmental political forum Group of Seven (G7) pledging to impose price caps on crude oil and the European Commission talking about fixing electricity prices, Russian president Vladimir Putin explained on Wednesday that Russia will not supply...
Russia Shuts off Europe’s Main Gas Pipeline Until the West’s Sanctions Are Lifted, Iran Tempts EU With Similar Deal
5.9.2022
Russia has seemingly drawn a line in the sand and will not turn on Europe’s main gas pipeline until the “collective West” lifts the financial sanctions against the country. The move follows the Nord Stream 1 pipeline allegedly shutting down for “maintenance,”...
Russia’s GDP Decline Less Severe Than Expected, Wall Street Returns to Russian Bonds, Putin Criticizes US ‘Hegemony’
17.8.2022
While the ongoing war in Ukraine continues, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation detailed this week that Russia’s economic hardships are less severe than expected. Russia’s economic ministry says that the economy’s gross domestic product (GDP)...
Report: 100,000 Cubans Are Using Cryptocurrencies to Bypass Financial Sanctions
3.5.2022
On May 2, 2022, a report stemming from the broadcast television and radio network the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), 100,000 Cubans are leveraging crypto assets. The report says increased crypto usage is due to the fact that Cubans cannot use certain payment vehicles due to the sanctions...
Former Chinese Central Bank Governor: US Dollar Will Remain Global Reserve Currency, Says It ‘Has Great Inertia’
27.4.2022
In remarks that appear to pour cold water on assertions that digital currencies will topple the U.S. dollar anytime soon, a former governor of the Chinese central bank, Zhou Xiaochuan, insisted the greenback will remain in its position as the global reserve currency. Xiaochuan said the dollar still...
Report: Compass to Sell $30 Million in Crypto Mining Equipment Located in Russia
24.4.2022
The U.S.-based company Compass Mining plans to sell $30 million worth of bitcoin mining equipment that’s currently located in Siberia. The decision to sell the mining rigs follows the U.S. government sanctioning the bitcoin mining operation Bitriver and ten subsidiaries. Compass is hoping...
IMF Warns Russia Sanctions Threaten to Undermine US Dollar Dominance
1.4.2022
Financial sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine may result in reduced dominance of the U.S. currency, according to a high-ranking official at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The confrontation could lead to fragmentation of the world’s current monetary system,...
Privacy Crypto Assets XMR, ZEC See Double-Digit Gains Amid Tightened Global Economy
13.3.2022
Over the last week, the United States and president Joe Biden’s administration tightened sanctions against Russia a great deal. The U.S. banned Russian energy imports, a number of other types of imported goods, and a series of harsh financial sanctions against Russia. In the midst of...
UK Watchdog Asks Crypto ATM Providers to Stop Operating or ‘Face Enforcement Action’
13.3.2022
U.K. watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has told firms running crypto ATMs in the country that they are operating illegally and must therefore shut down their machines. Operators that fail to heed the warning will face enforcement action, the FCA said. Crypto ATM Providers Operating...
Russia Proceeds With Efforts to Legalize Crypto Amid Sanctions Over Ukraine
5.3.2022
Authorities in Russia are continuing their work to establish a comprehensive legal framework for crypto transactions. The efforts, which started before the military invasion of Ukraine, go on amid warnings that Moscow may use cryptocurrencies to evade expanding financial sanctions. Expert Council...
Analysts Warn of Regulatory Risks if Russia Is Able to Use Crypto to Evade Sanctions
27.2.2022
Russia could turn to cryptocurrency if it is banned from the SWIFT payments system. Analysts have warned that if Russia is able to use crypto to evade sanctions, “political support in the U.S. for crypto will fall and regulatory risk will rise.” Crypto Faces Regulatory Risks if Used...