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Digital Ruble Law Likely to Be Passed in June According to Russian Official
19.5.2023
The digital ruble law project, which was already discussed and approved in its first reading, could be passed in June, according to Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the Duma’s Financial Markets Committee. The Bank of Russia is currently waiting for the enactment of this ruleset to conduct a live test...
Russia Projected to Start Purchasing Chinese Yuan for Its Foreign Reserves as Soon as May
4.5.2023
Russia will start to purchase Chinese yuan for its international reserves as soon as this month, according to reports from Russian economists. While analysts state that the purchases will be small and symbolic in the beginning, these will supposedly demonstrate a turnaround in the economy of...
Russian Banks Set for Record Profits This Year, Central Bank, Rating Agency Say
3.5.2023
Bank of Russia raised its forecast for the profits of Russian banks in 2023, expecting results that may break the 2021 record. This year’s high numbers are coming after 2022 became the worst annual period in seven years for the sanctioned Russian banking sector in terms of financial outcome. Banks...
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,...
Russia to Increase Reliance on National Currencies in Energy Trade, Vows to Move Away From the US Dollar
24.4.2023
Russia will increase its reliance on national currencies to settle payments for its energy resources, moving away from the US dollar, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Novak noted there is a great interest in acquiring Russian energy resources, leading Russia to accept...
Russia to Work With Digital Currencies of Other Nations
23.4.2023
The platform developed for the digital ruble will be able to operate with different state-issued digital currencies, the Bank of Russia said. Mechanisms for interaction with digital coins minted by the central banks of other countries are already under development, the monetary authority unveiled....
Global Reserves Held in US Dollars Fell to Less Than 50% — Official States It Has Become a ‘Toxic’ Currency
22.4.2023
The percentage of reserves held in U.S. dollars by central banks has fallen to less than half of the global total of reserves, according to a note from Eurizon SLJ Asset Management. The note states that the recent sanctions enacted by the U.S. against the Bank of Russia have eroded trust in...
Bank of Russia Has Stockpiled Reserve Comprised of Non-US Sanctioned Assets, Governor States
21.4.2023
Elvira Nabiullina, governor of the Bank of Russia, has affirmed the bank has stockpiled reserves in assets that are not susceptible to being affected by U.S. sanctions. The official clarified that Russia has built a “safety cushion” in these assets while it continues working on creating...
Foreign trade and pensions: What’s next for Russia’s CBDC project?
20.4.2023
The Russian digital ruble pilot launch was delayed until at least May, but the government still hopes to kick off the currency in 2024
Bank of Russia to set up entities for crypto mining and cross-border settlement: Report
19.4.2023
Russia's central bank plans to create new institutions to mine crypto assets and settle international payments
Russia Developing Payment Gateways With Partners Like Turkey, Mulling Crypto Settlements
19.4.2023
Bank of Russia is building a system of gateways with foreign payment networks and is now working with Turkey in this field. Russia’s monetary authority would also allow the experimental use of cryptocurrencies in foreign economic activities, its head was quoted as saying. Russia’s Central Bank...
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Acknowledges Sanctions Weaponization Could Hurt Dollar Hegemony
17.4.2023
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talked about the dangers that sanctions based on the U.S. dollar might pose for the hegemony of the currency in international markets. According to Yellen, the government tries to use sanctions “judiciously,” as they can create a desire to find...
Bank of Russia Analysts Note Ditching US Dollar Is ‘Hardly Possible’ Without Structural Changes to Foreign Trade
14.4.2023
A report from the research department of the Bank of Russia shows that, due to the structure of foreign trade contracts, it will be difficult to ditch the usage of the U.S. dollar to settle payments. The analysts found that contracts are often denominated in U.S. dollars and that most transactions...
Household Crypto Holdings Included in Bank of Russia’s Consumer Finance Survey
3.4.2023
The Central Bank of Russia has added crypto asset holdings of households to its survey of consumer finances. The statistics reveal that Russian families keep more money in cryptocurrency wallets than in gold investment accounts or mutual funds. Russia’s Central Bank Evaluates Cryptocurrency...
Russia delays digital ruble launch testing due to lawmaking process
29.3.2023
The participating banks, however, express their readiness to proceed with the CBDC pilot
Russian Parliament Votes on Bill Opening Door for Digital Ruble
18.3.2023
Russian lawmakers have approved a draft law facilitating the implementation of the digital version of the national currency, the ruble. The legislation amends various other acts to introduce definitions and establish procedures related to the launch of the central bank digital currency. Russian...
Bank of Russia Registers Another Digital Asset Issuer
13.3.2023
The Central Bank of Russia has added another entity to its register of authorized issuers of digital financial assets. The platform, called ‘Masterchain,’ becomes the fifth ‘information system operator’ in the country that can legally tokenize traditional assets and organize their trade. Number...
Russian crypto advocates urge Putin to stop regulatory hostility
8.3.2023
Russia’s existing regulatory stance on the cryptocurrency industry would potentially lead the country to “direct financial losses,” the RACIB argued
Investment Fund Focused on Crypto Mining to Be Created in Russia
3.3.2023
The establishment of Russia’s first mutual investment fund dedicated to financing cryptocurrency mining operations is underway. According to a report by the Russian press, it will be available to qualified investors and will finance the acquisition of coin minting equipment. Russian Crypto Mining...
Russian Bank Issues Bank Guarantee in Chinese Yuan Using Blockchain
2.3.2023
A bank in Russia has issued the country’s first blockchain-based bank guarantee denominated in Chinese currency. The financial institution underscored the advantages of using a digital form of the document and pointed out that demand for yuan payments is growing. MKB Employs Bank of Russia’s...