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Rosfinmonitoring: Crypto Popularity Soars in Russia, 185K Transactions Registered in 2023
3.11.2023
Director of Rosfinmonitoring Yuri Chikhanchin referred to the rise in popularity that crypto is experiencing in Russia in a recent interview, stating that more than 185,000 cryptocurrency transactions were completed during the first nine months of 2023. Chikhanchin also called for regulation in...
Binance to Opt Out of Ruble Payment Deal with Advcash Amid Russian Exit
2.11.2023
Binance is planning to end its partnership with the payment provider Advcash, putting a stop to the ruble-based transactions, according to the Wall Street Journal. This move is in line with the crypto exchange’s ongoing strategy to exit the Russian market. Binance’s collaboration with...
Number of Russian Crypto Transactions ‘Has Tripled in 2023,’ Says Kremlin
2.11.2023
The Kremlin believes the number of crypto transactions conducted in Russia has risen by three times in 2023, with transfer volumes “doubling.” The claims were made by Yuri Chikhanchin, the head of Rosfinmonitoring, in an interview with the Russian media outlet Izvestia. Formally known...
Web3 Protocol WalletConnect Halts Services in Russia, Following US Treasury Guidelines
1.11.2023
Web3 platform WalletConnect, which links cryptocurrency wallets, has restricted its services in Russia, in light of the latest US Guidelines. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) unveiled sanctions in Russia and a few parts of Ukraine. The restrictions came into effect...
Russian Politicians Want to Ban Private Citizens from Mining Crypto
1.11.2023
A senior Russian politician has claimed that lawmakers want to bar private citizens from mining crypto – but will allow industrial miners to operate. The comments came from Anton Tkachev, the Deputy Head of the State Duma’s Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies,...
Russia’s FSB Charges Man with ‘High Treason’ for ‘Donating Crypto to Ukraine’
30.10.2023
The Russian FSB, the nation’s intelligence service, has charged a man suspected of donating crypto to Ukraine’s military with high treason. The man, named Alexander Vechirko (54), was arrested by the FSB (Federal Security Service) in June this year – and, following a several...
Binance Appoints New Regional Head for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
28.10.2023
Binance’s General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Kyrylo Khomiakov, will take responsibility for Central Asia as well. His promotion comes after the crypto exchange’s top executives in the region left the company last month, part of a string of executive exits at Binance this year. Kyrylo...
Bank of Russia Predicts Digital Ruble Won’t End Other Payment Methods
21.10.2023
The Central Bank of Russia does not expect the introduction of the digital ruble to end the popularity of other non-cash and cash payment options. According to statements offered by Alla Bakina, director of the bank’s national payment system department, other non-cash payment options have...
Russia Gov’t Wants to Use Its CBDC for Tax Collection, Paying Benefits
20.10.2023
Russia’s government intends to use the digital ruble to make welfare payments, and wants citizens to use the CBDC to pay their taxes.
Per Finam, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance say they are “exploring the possibility of using the digital ruble for government payments,” and want...
Russian ‘Crypto Queen’ Suspected of Sending Coins to Ukraine
19.10.2023
Russian police think that a “crypto influencer” known as Bitmama, aka the “Queen of Crypto,” may have sent tokens to support Ukraine’s military.
Valeria “Bitmama” Fedyakina was detained by police in September after an “acquaintance” accused her of fraud.
She remains in custody, and a news network...
Russian telecoms giant MTS announces ads service targeting Telegram users
17.10.2023
Telegram denies that it has entered any advertising-related agreements with Russian companies
Jim Rickards Blasts US Congress Confiscation Initiatives: ‘The Drive to Create New Currencies Will Go Into Overdrive’
17.10.2023
Renowned economist and best-selling author Jim Rickards has warned about the effects of a new U.S. congressional initiative that proposes confiscating Russian assets to reimburse itself for the aid given to Ukraine. Rickards believes that, if passed, this legislation will alert the international...
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...
Russian Business Titan Sber to Join Digital Ruble Pilot
16.10.2023
Russia’s Sber, the operator of Sberbank, says it will join the Central Bank’s digital ruble pilot, in a major coup for the nation’s CBDC.
Vedemosti reported that Sber’s influential CEO, the former Economy Minister Herman Gref, said his firm “will definitely” join a “second wave” of banks that will...
Moscow Exchange Plans to Issue Real Estate Digital Assets by 2024
14.10.2023
The Moscow Exchange, the largest exchange in Russia, has announced plans to issue real estate digital assets in 2024. According to Sergei Kharinov, director of digital assets for the platform, this will lower the entry barrier for qualified and unqualified investors to put part of their portfolio...
Russian Attackers May Have Been Behind Hack of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX, Elliptic Says
12.10.2023
Research firm Elliptic said some of the stolen funds appear to be linked to Russian cybercriminal groups, citing on-chain analysis
Russia Could Use Digital Ruble to Evade SWIFT, Wants Foreign Banks to Use its CBDC
12.10.2023
Russia’s Central Bank thinks its digital ruble could let citizens pay abroad without making use of the SWIFT banking platform – and wants to let foreign banks use its CBDC.
Per the Russian IT-focused media outlet CNews, the Central Bank has drafted a bill that, if passed, would allow foreign banks...
More Russian Banks Say They’ll Join Digital Ruble Pilot – CBDC Advances?
11.10.2023
More Russian banks will join the digital ruble pilot, with Center-invest Bank, which mainly operates in the nation’s south, set to trial the CBDC next year.
Per Rostov Gazeta, Center-invest Bank has “signed a digital ruble [partnership] agreement with the [CBDC’s] operator, the Central Bank.”
The...
Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Sees ‘Most Threatening’ Geopolitical Environment — Warns of China, Russia, Iran
11.10.2023
Billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones has warned of the effects of the geopolitical uncertainty around four nuclear powers, including China, Russia, and Iran. “It might be the most threatening and challenging geopolitical environment that I’ve ever seen,” Jones stressed. “It...
Estonia-Licensed Crypto Firms Blamed for €1 Billion in Damages
10.10.2023
Bad actors exploited Estonia’s once liberal licensing regime for crypto companies to defraud investors and commit other crimes, an investigative report claims. The authors say they discovered dozens of such cases, including scams and schemes for sanctions evasion and money laundering. Since Tallinn...