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Lithuania Fines Crypto Firm $10M for Russian Sanctions Violations
11.7.2024
The Lithuanian Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) has fined the crypto firm Payeer nearly 9.3 million euros ($10 million) for international sanctions violations and anti-money laundering (AML) breaches. Specifically, Payeer was fined 8.23 million euros for facilitating transactions...
US Lawmaker Proposes Stricter Digital Asset Regulations to Enforce Russian Sanctions
14.6.2024
U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman has proposed an amendment designed to enhance the enforcement of sanctions on Russian digital assets. The amendment allows the Treasury Secretary to prohibit crypto transactions linked to Russian entities and requires U.S. taxpayers to report crypto transactions...
EU Reveals Details of Russian Sanctions Package in New Q&A, Includes Updated Crypto Provisions
19.12.2023
The European Union (EU) revealed details on their latest package of sanctions against Russia, which includes provisions on crypto, in a newly released Q&A this week. Enacting bans and closing loopholes According to the Q&A posted on the website of the European Commission, the updated...
Crypto Exchange CoinList Settles OFAC's Russian Sanctions Allegations for $1.2M
14.12.2023
CoinList did not detect users who claimed to be from non-embargoed countries, but provided addresses in Crimea, OFAC said
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...
Putin Warns of Increased Financial Crisis Risk — Says Russia Is Being Subjected to Hybrid War
7.7.2023
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has warned of increased “risks of a new global economic and financial crisis against the backdrop of an uncontrolled debt accumulation by developed countries.” He added that Russia is “being subjected to a hybrid war, with illegitimate anti-Russian sanctions that...
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...
IRS, Chainalysis Helping Ukraine Track Russians Using Crypto to Evade Sanctions
14.5.2023
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said it’s working closely with Ukraine to help it trace crypto transactions of Russian sanctions evaders. The agency is providing the Ukrainians access to a Chainalysis tool as well as specialized training to Ukrainian law enforcement. IRS Offers Ukraine...
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....
US Justice Department investigating Binance for violating Russian sanctions: Report
6.5.2023
The DOJ’s national security and crime divisions are both looking at the cryptocurrency exchange’s provision of services to Russians, Bloomberg reports
US DOJ Investigating Binance’s Involvement With Possible Russian Sanctions Violations: Bloomberg
5.5.2023
The US Justice Department is investigating whether Binance Holdings Ltd. was illegally used to let Russians skirt US sanctions and move money through the cryptocurrency exchange, according to a report from Bloomberg News.
The Justice Department’s national security division is looking into whether...
‘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,...
Treasury Secretary Yellen Says US Government Will Take ‘Any Steps Necessary’ to Preserve Its Financial Dominance
22.4.2023
According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the United States government is prepared to take the steps necessary to ensure its financial system remains the world’s strongest and safest. Yellen said that the U.S. government will not hesitate to punish Chinese companies that violate...
Tucker Carlson Blames Recent De-Dollarization Movements on Russian Sanctions and US Dollar Weaponization
8.4.2023
Tucker Carlson, host of Fox News and the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show, analyzed the situation surrounding de-dollarization movements that countries like China and Russia have promoted recently. Carlson stated that sanctions on Russia and the weaponization of the U.S. dollar are partly...
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...