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US Charges Russians, Venezuelans for Sanctions Evasion Using Cryptocurrency
20.10.2022
A group of Russian and Venezuelan nationals have been charged by U.S. authorities for their roles in a scheme to circumvent Western sanctions and launder money on a global scale. They have been accused of obtaining military technologies from American companies, smuggling oil, and disguising money...
Foreigners to Be Given Anonymous Entry Points to Digital Ruble, Russian Official Suggests
15.9.2022
Foreign nationals should be able to buy Russia’s upcoming digital ruble through entry points providing anonymity, according to a high-ranking member of the Russian parliament. The idea circulated in Moscow aims to protect these investors from Western sanctions. State Duma Deputy Proposes...
Russia Can’t Do Without Cross-Border Crypto Payments, Consensus Reached
7.9.2022
Key government institutions have agreed that Russia needs to legalize crypto payments for international settlements. The proposal has been gaining support in the past few months since Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine was met with wave after wave of Western sanctions. Financial Authorities...
Sanctioned Russian Bank Tests In-app Operations With Digital Rubles
3.9.2022
A Russian bank, one of the country’s largest by assets, has conducted a successful trial with digital ruble transactions processed through its mobile app. The state-owned Promsvyazbank was one the institutions placed under Western sanctions earlier this year in connection with...
Crypto Farms Mining at Russian Oil Fields Reach 85 MW of Capacity, Analysts Say
31.8.2022
Farms mining cryptocurrency at oil wells in Russia account for 85 megawatts (MW) of energy capacity, experts have estimated. Investors are considering projects for another 200 MW despite constraints stemming from Western sanctions, a report reveals. Annual Income From Crypto Mining With Associated...
Over Half of This Year’s Financial Pyramids in Russia Involved Crypto, Bank of Russia Finds
17.7.2022
A majority of the financial pyramids identified in 2022 used cryptocurrencies in one way or another, Russia’s central bank announced in a new report. Amid Western sanctions, Russian scams have stepped up their activities, often claiming to be licensed by foreign authorities to offer access...
Russian Blockchain Alternative to SWIFT to Prevent Disconnection of Nations, Banks
13.7.2022
A Russian university is ready to test its blockchain-based analogue to the global payment messaging network SWIFT, from which Russian banks were cut off as part of Western sanctions. The developers say their system would not allow the disconnecting of countries and banks. Russian Developers Create...
Lithuanian Government Approves Stricter Crypto Regulations
11.6.2022
The government in Vilnius has approved amendments introducing more stringent regulations for the country’s growing crypto space. The legislation is aimed at managing risks associated with crypto assets and preventing Russian attempts to circumvent Western sanctions imposed over the war...
Bank of Russia Steps Up Efforts to Issue Digital Ruble Due to Sanctions
29.5.2022
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has accelerated the development of its digital ruble in response to Western sanctions. The monetary authority now intends to pilot transactions with the new version of the national fiat in early 2023 instead of 2024, as originally planned. CBR to Launch...
Majority of Russia’s Financial Pyramids in Q1 Linked to Crypto, Scammers Exploit Sanctions Topic
8.5.2022
Many of the financial pyramids identified in Russia during the first quarter of the year have been associated with cryptocurrencies, a top central bank official has revealed. Fraudsters are actively exploiting the hot topics of the day, including the sanctions theme. Pyramids Offer Russian...
How Western Sanctions on Russia Could Make Crypto an International Reserve Currency
28.4.2022
If oil and gas are one day denominated in cryptocurrency, we’re likely to see other industries start pegging their goods and services to crypto
Report Says Binance Shared Client Data With Russia, Crypto Exchange Denies Allegations
23.4.2022
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has been accused in a media report of agreeing to provide user data to Russia’s financial watchdog. The trading platform has refuted the allegations. It also insists it’s complying with Western sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion...
Russian Banks Told to Track Crypto-Related Transactions Amid Currency Restrictions
19.3.2022
Bank of Russia has recommended commercial banks pay heightened attention to their clients’ transactions related to cryptocurrencies. The regulator requires the financial institutions to monitor such activity against the backdrop of restrictions on currency operations amid western sanctions....
US Senators Introduce Crypto Sanctions Bill — Expert Says It’s Overbroad, Unconstitutional
19.3.2022
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and 10 other lawmakers have introduced the “Digital Asset Sanctions Compliance Enhancement Act of 2022.” The bill “would place sweeping restrictions on persons who build, operate, and use cryptocurrency networks even if they have no knowledge...
Bank of Russia Allows Sberbank to Issue Digital Financial Assets
18.3.2022
Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has been authorized by the country’s monetary policy regulator to issue digital financial assets. The move comes amid tightening Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, including limiting Moscow’s access to the global financial market....
Young Russians View Crypto as Safe Investment Amid Economic Uncertainty, Poll Finds
18.3.2022
As western sanctions increase the pressure on their country’s economy, many young Russians consider cryptocurrency to be a “reliable and profitable” investment option. According to a recent study, the share of Russian citizens who know about bitcoin has reached two thirds...
Crypto Assets Can Help Russia Return to Global Financial Market, Lawmaker Says
17.3.2022
Digital financial assets like cryptocurrencies can help Russia to reach the global financial market despite western sanctions, a lawmaker working on crypto regulations has stated. The official believes the country is capable of setting up domestic crypto exchanges and should support mining. Russia...
US Banking Giants Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Wind Down Business in Russia
13.3.2022
Global investment banks Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are winding down business in the Russian Federation. The move comes as western sanctions against Moscow over its decision to launch a military invasion of Ukraine continue to expand, supported by leading financial institutions. Goldman Sachs...
Upcoming AML Regulations in Estonia to Affect Cryptocurrency Industry
12.3.2022
Estonia is preparing to enforce a set of new anti-money laundering rules that will stiffen requirements for crypto companies operating under Estonian license. The changes come amid concerns that Russia may use crypto to evade western sanctions and an ongoing audit of the Baltic nation’s...
Thailand Seeks to Offer Russian Tourists Crypto Payment Option Amid Fiat Sanctions
8.3.2022
A popular destination for many Russians, Thailand is now looking for ways to facilitate their payments amid widening western sanctions over Moscow’s military invasion of Ukraine. Cryptocurrency is one of the options being explored by the tourism industry as Russian citizens now face...