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Russian Crypto Exchange Moves Money for Gaza Groups, Report
16.10.2023
Palestinian militant organizations, including a Hamas-linked Islamist group, have been using a Moscow-based crypto exchange to transfer millions, a press report revealed. The U.S.-sanctioned platform, which allows customers to convert Russian cash to crypto and then withdraw fiat abroad, has been...
Russia’s Rosbank Launches Crypto Payments Solution for Cross-Border Settlements
5.6.2023
Rosbank has become the first large Russian bank to offer clients an option to use cryptocurrencies in international settlements. The solution, provided in tandem with a Russian fintech, is mostly intended to meet the needs of businesses working with foreign partners. Russian Companies to Be Able...
Putin Wants Limit on Currency Purchases for Russians Dealing With Foreigners
24.5.2023
Russian citizens and firms doing business abroad may soon be restricted in the amount of foreign currency they are allowed to acquire, on order from Vladimir Putin. Russia’s head of state now wants his government to cap such purchases on the domestic forex market. President Putin Orders Russian...
De-dollarization Has Already Started, Says Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov
21.5.2023
The process of de-dollarization has practically started, according to Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. Moscow’s top diplomat is convinced that Russia’s position on the matter is shared by many other countries while the West is undermining the role of the U.S. currency. Russia’s...
Digital Assets for 1 Billion Rubles Issued in Russia in a Month
7.5.2023
Platforms authorized by the Russian government issued digital assets worth around a billion rubles in April, the local press reported. The spike in the volume has been attributed to Russian companies experimenting with new financial instruments amid limited access to traditional capital. Russia’s...
Binance Reportedly Investigated in US for Russia Sanctions Violations
7.5.2023
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is facing a U.S. probe over suspected violations of sanctions against Russia, according to a media report. The inquiry is looking into whether the trading platform was used by Russians to circumvent financial restrictions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine....
‘Evil Crypto’ Can Be Used in Foreign Trade, Russia’s Deputy Finance Minister Says
1.5.2023
Cryptocurrency may be bad for investors but it can be useful in international settlements, according to a top government official in Moscow. Russian authorities intend to set up a special committee that would issue permits to operators employing crypto in foreign trade transactions, he indicated....
No Rate Hikes in Russia, Central Bank Keeps Interest Rate Level Again
29.4.2023
Bank of Russia decided to maintain the interest rate at 7.5% amid moderate inflation, estimated at 2.5% on an annual basis in April, although this may change later this year. The monetary authority improved its forecast for the Russian economy and now expects growth entirely in positive figures,...
Credit Suisse, UBS, Other Banks Facing Russia Sanctions Probe in US, Report
25.3.2023
Switzerland’s troubled Credit Suisse and its rescuer, USB, are subject to an investigation into whether bankers helped Russian oligarchs evade Western sanctions, according to a media report. Some major U.S. banking institutions are also under scrutiny within the probe initiated by the Justice...
Blockchain to Become More Relevant in Payments This Year, Sberbank Exec Says
20.3.2023
Blockchain technology can help solve current issues with settlements, according to the deputy chief executive of Sberbank. Russia’s largest bank is working with other financial institutions to develop blockchain-based payment applications, the banker revealed. Sberbank Sees Solution to Russia’s...
Moscow City Crypto Exchanges Ready to Send Cash to London, Report
17.3.2023
An investigation into digital asset exchanges in the Russian capital has established that some of them are ready to buy digital coins and deliver paper money in the U.K. The transfer of funds does not usually involve the identification of the clients, Transparency International Russia reveals in...
Russian Darknet Markets, Ransomware Groups Thrive Despite Sanctions, Report
27.2.2023
Russian marketplaces on the dark web have continued to operate despite Western sanctions and efforts to shut them down, according to a report accessing the illicit blockchain space amid the world’s “first crypto war.” Ransomware actors and high-risk crypto exchanges have also remained active....
Briton Wanted by US for Advising North Korea on Crypto Arrested in Russia
23.2.2023
A British national wanted with a red notice from Interpol for consulting North Korea on cryptocurrencies has been detained in Moscow. U.S. authorities allege that the man helped the regime in Pyongyang to bypass sanctions using digital assets. U.K. Citizen Sought by U.S. for Violating North Korea...
Russia’s Largest Private Bank Launches Digital Asset Platform
5.2.2023
Alfa-Bank, one of the major Russian banking institutions, has established its own platform for digital financial assets. The launch became possible after Russia’s monetary authority added Alfa-Bank to its register of digital asset issuers this week. Privately-Owned Alfa-Bank Sets Up Digital Asset...
Russia Expands Its Crypto Mining Capacity, Report Reveals
5.2.2023
The total capacity of crypto mining facilities in Russia has been increasing in the past year, despite the market downturn and sanctions, according to a survey of leading operators. Depressed prices of mining equipment and stronger interest from domestic customers have been identified as major...
Russians Offered Ready-made Crypto Exchange Accounts Amid Restrictions
31.1.2023
Russian crypto traders have been looking to obtain unrestricted accounts for global exchanges as their access to such platforms is limited. Over the past year, the offering of such accounts on the dark web has increased significantly, cybersecurity experts told the Russian press. Supply of Crypto...
Ukraine’s Financial Watchdog Reports Blocking Russian Crypto Exchanges
22.1.2023
The financial monitoring agency of Ukraine has restricted access to a number of online crypto exchangers operating out of Russia. Some of the coin trading platforms are working with sanctioned Russian banks, the regulatory body announced in a report. Ukrainian Financial Authorities Target Russian...
Dollar Loses to Digital Currencies in 2023, Former Russian President Medvedev Says
30.12.2022
Digital fiat currencies will spread next year while the U.S. dollar will be losing its status of global reserve currency, according to Russia’s former head of state. In a string of tweets, Dmitry Medvedev gave his two cents on what the future holds for the world, a “humble contribution,” as he...
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...
Bank of Russia Moves to Safeguard Crypto Companies Against Sanctions
16.12.2022
The Central Bank of Russia has introduced measures to protect entities working with digital assets from sanctions pressures. These businesses will be exempted from some reporting requirements as part of a regulatory relief intended to minimize the burden on financial organizations. Russia’s Central...