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Bank of Russia to Pilot Digital Ruble Settlements in 2023
25.4.2022
Russia’s monetary authority intends to conduct the first settlements with the digital ruble next year, its governor announced this week. Speaking to Russian lawmakers, the official highlighted the important role the new currency is going to play for Russia under sanctions. Russia to Trial...
US Lawmaker Urges Biden Administration to Develop ‘Robust Strategy’ to Prevent Crypto Use to Evade Sanctions
20.4.2022
A U.S. lawmaker has urged the Biden administration to develop a “robust strategy” to prevent cryptocurrency from being used to evade sanctions. “Emerging technologies like cryptocurrency offer many positive applications like humanitarian relief, but the administration has...
Japan Considers Stricter Crypto Regulations in Light of Russia Sanctions
1.4.2022
Authorities in Japan are planning to introduce tougher new rules for crypto operators as part of efforts to prevent Russia from using cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions. The legislative initiative comes after Tokyo asked digital asset exchanges to strengthen transactions monitoring this month....
Are Russia’s Elite Really Using Cryptocurrency to Evade Sanctions?
25.3.2022
Dr Paul Mazzola, Lecturer Banking and Finance, Faculty of Business and Law, the University of Wollongong, and Mitchell Goroch, Cryptocurrency Trader and Researcher, University of Wollongong.
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Fearing Russia’s elite will evade economic sanctions by converting their wealth...
US Treasury Official: We Don’t See That Crypto Could Be Used in Large-Scale Way to Evade Sanctions
20.3.2022
The U.S. Department of the Treasury does not see that cryptocurrency could be used in a large-scale way to evade sanctions. “Its share as a medium for illicit finance is not anywhere as large as just using cash,” a senior Treasury official noted. Treasury Department’s View...
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....
Elliptic Identifies ‘Several Hundred Thousand Crypto Addresses’ Tied to Russia-Based Sanctioned Actors
17.3.2022
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, blockchain surveillance companies have discussed and implemented ways to combat sanctioned countries from using digital assets. Last week, Chainalysis revealed screening tools for crypto firms that aim to comply with international sanctions. On Monday,...
Japan Asks Crypto Exchanges to Comply With Sanctions Restrictions — Penalty Includes 3 Years in Prison
15.3.2022
Japan’s top financial regulator has asked cryptocurrency exchanges in the country not to process transactions subject to asset-freeze sanctions. The penalty for unauthorized payments to sanctioned persons includes three years in prison. Japan’s Financial Regulator and Ministry...
G7 Countries: We Will Ensure Russia Cannot Use Crypto Assets to Evade Sanctions
14.3.2022
The Group of Seven (G7) countries issued a joint statement stating that they “will ensure that the Russian state and elites, proxies and oligarchs cannot leverage digital assets as a means of evading or offsetting the impact of international sanctions.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury...
Binance, Coinbase Explain Why Cryptocurrency Won’t Help Russia Evade Sanctions
7.3.2022
The chief executives of two major cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, do not believe that cryptocurrency is an effective tool to help Russia evade Western sanctions. CEOs of Binance and Coinbase Say Crypto Not Useful at Evading Sanctions Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine...
Singapore to Impose Restrictions on Russian Financial and Crypto Transactions
6.3.2022
In a rare move, Singapore is going to introduce restrictions on certain Russian financial transactions and crypto operations aimed at evading sanctions. The decision comes amid officially expressed concerns that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of small states around...
Bitcoin Is Helping Both Sides in Ukraine War, But It Won’t Wreck Russian Sanctions
6.3.2022
Gavin Brown, Associate Professor in Financial Technology, the University of Liverpool._____
War is expensive. The United States spent about USD 1.1tn on the 2003 Iraq war in today’s money, while the Falklands war cost the UK the equivalent of about GBP 2.6bn (USD 3.4bn). ...
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Japan Looks to Stop Sanctioned Russian Entities From Transferring Crypto Assets
6.3.2022
As financial authorities around the world continue to target sanctioned Russian entities, regulators in Japan along with the country’s crypto association are attempting to find and close gaps that may be used to circumvent sanctions. The two bodies, however, have said they are not discussing...
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...
G7 Countries, EU Taking Measures to Prevent Crypto Use to Evade Sanctions
5.3.2022
G7 countries and the European Union are examining ways to stop the use of cryptocurrency by Russia to evade sanctions. “We should take measures to prevent listed persons and institutions from switching to unregulated crypto assets,” said Germany’s minister of finance. G7 and...
Coinbase CEO Says Ordinary Russians Use Crypto as a Lifeline as the Ruble Collapses
5.3.2022
The CEO of the Nasdaq-listed crypto exchange Coinbase says ordinary Russians are using cryptocurrency as a lifeline now that their own currency, the ruble, has collapsed. The executive also does not see a high risk of Russian oligarchs using crypto to avoid sanctions. Crypto Becomes a Lifeline...
US Treasury Monitoring Crypto Use to Evade Sanctions, Says Treasury Secretary Yellen
4.3.2022
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the Treasury Department is monitoring Russian efforts to evade sanctions using cryptocurrency. Four U.S. senators have written to Yellen raising concerns about Russia using cryptocurrency as a channel to circumvent sanctions. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen...
Russian Bank Run Begins as Ruble Plunges to Record Low Amid Escalating Sanctions
28.2.2022
A bank run has started in Russia as citizens rush to withdraw cash amid escalating sanctions. The Russian ruble also nosedived to a record low, plunging more than 30%. “There are about 70 people in line. Eyewitnesses say the money in the ATM runs out within 40 minutes.” Russians Rush...
Ukraine Targets Russian Politicians’ Crypto Wallets as Russian Banks Are Cut From SWIFT
28.2.2022
Ukraine is now trying to expose cryptocurrency wallets used by politicians in Moscow amid warnings that Russia may employ digital coins to circumvent sanctions. The initiative comes as western allies agree to expel some Russian banks from SWIFT, the global interbank payments system. Government...
Venezuelan Vice Minister Tells Investors to Pay in Crypto to Dodge Sanctions
21.1.2022
A Venezuelan minister has been singing the praises of crypto – and suggesting that the government, which amassed a large bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH) “stash,” plans to attract international and domestic investors by convincing them to use cryptoassets....
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