Anatoly Aksakov, chair of State Duma's Financial Markets Committee, said a draft bill is ready to let non-qualified investors trade crypto.
A7A5, a ruble-linked stablecoin few outside Russia had heard of a year ago grew the most of any stablecoin, outpacing both USDT and USDC over the past 12 months.
The era of the hooded hacker hoarding Bitcoin in a dark web wallet is over. In 2025, the center of gravity in the illicit cryptocurrency economy shifted decisively away from the volatility of the original cryptocurrency and toward a dense, dollar-linked shadow system. According to new Chainalysis data shared with CryptoSlate, stablecoins accounted for 84% […]
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Non-qualified investors would be allowed to trade no more than 300,000 rubles annually per licensed intermediary.
Bank of Russia outlined a new framework intended to let retail and qualified investors buy crypto under defined tests and caps by 2027.
According to statements reported by Russian news agencies, Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, said cryptocurrencies “will never become money” in Russia and should be treated only as investment instruments. He said that where a payment is required, it must be made in Russian rubles. Related Reading: Ethereum Meets Wall Street: JPMorgan Rolls Out Tokenized Fund Ruble Remains Sole Payment Unit Based on reports, that stance matches existing law. A 2020 federal law on digital financial assets defines digital currency as something different from Russia’s monetary unit and bars its use as a means of payment inside the country. The law treats tokens and classic cryptocurrencies as property or investment items rather than legal tender. Russia Central Bank Concerns Over Stability Officials in Moscow have repeatedly echoed the central bank’s worry that allowing crypto for everyday payments could harm monetary control and financial stability. Regulators say the ruble’s role must be protected, and that volatility in assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum makes them unsuitable for regular transactions. Limited Windows For Crypto Use Reports have also noted that while crypto cannot be used to buy goods and services domestically, it can still exist in regulated pockets. Lawmakers and regulators are framing cryptocurrencies as tradable assets, not cash. Some narrow exceptions are being discussed for corporate or cross-border operations under strict rules, but those do not change the basic ban on domestic payments. What The Law Means For People And Business Practical effects are clear. Russian residents and businesses cannot accept digital coins in place of rubles for sales or services. At the same time, individuals can hold, trade, or invest in crypto under the framework that separates ownership from payment rights. The law also requires public officials to declare holdings in digital assets, linking transparency rules to the new regime. Related Reading: 5,606 Bitcoin: Lightning Network Sets Fresh Capacity Record A Narrowing Path Forward Based on reports from several outlets, the political message is firm: payments stay in rubles. Lawmakers are talking about refining rules for trading, custody and reporting, but they are not signalling a shift toward letting cryptocurrencies replace the ruble for daily use. That position keeps Russia on a different track from some countries that permit crypto payments or give coins legal tender status. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Sanctions, capital controls and Russia’s improvised financial plumbing helped create A7A5, a ruble stablecoin built on a currency rarely used in global commerce, allowing it to appear legally at major events even as its presence leaves compliance teams panicked.
VTB, Russia’s second-largest bank, has told clients it plans to let them buy and sell real cryptocurrencies through its brokerage service, with a target rollout in 2026 pending regulator approval. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crash Fails To Shake Ripple CEO — He Still Calls For $180K According to the bank, the move would go beyond the derivative products that most Russian banks have offered so far. It is a clear shift toward opening traditional finance to digital assets, at least for now among wealthy clients. Client Eligibility And Timetable Reports have disclosed that VTB intends to begin with high-net-worth customers only. The bank set thresholds for its initial offering: clients with assets above $1.3 million or annual income over $649,000 would be eligible at first. Andrey Yatskov, who heads VTB’s brokerage arm, said there is “sharp demand” from clients for access to actual crypto, not just paper products tied to token prices. The bank has picked 2026 as the planned start year, but it made that clear the launch depends on regulators signing off. Real Crypto, Not Just Contracts Based on reports, the service would allow ownership of the underlying coins — not merely derivative contracts or token-linked notes. That is a significant distinction in Russia, where until recently banks were limited to offering exposure through derivative instruments. Allowing customers to hold coins directly would require legal and compliance work, from custody arrangements to anti-money-laundering controls. Those steps are on the critical path before any retail expansion can happen. Potential Market Signals VTB has also given investors a sense of how it views crypto as an asset class. The bank recommended a 7% allocation to crypto for some investor profiles, and its internal forecasts have mentioned medium-term Bitcoin price targets in the $200,000–$250,000 range under favorable conditions. If VTB moves forward, it could be the first major Russian bank to operate in this way — a signal that some parts of the financial sector see token ownership as something to be offered through mainstream channels. Related Reading: A New Era Begins: CFTC Approves Spot Bitcoin On Regulated US Markets Regulatory Hurdles And Geopolitics The plan is not risk free. Russian regulation of crypto is still evolving, and any permit to offer direct trading will require approval from the relevant authorities. Sanctions and other geopolitical pressures could alter timelines or force changes to how the service is structured. Compliance teams will need to reconcile domestic rules with international restrictions that affect many big banks operating in or dealing with Russia. For now, the rollout remains conditional. VTB’s timeline, client criteria, and product design all hinge on legal clarifications and regulator consent. Market participants and clients will likely follow announcements from the Bank of Russia and other agencies to judge how soon broader access might come. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
In 2026, VTB plans to be the first Russian bank to allow clients access to spot crypto trading services.
A billion-pound laundering network spread across the UK used cryptocurrency to move criminal proceeds and help Russian interests evade sanctions, according to the NCA.
US President Donald Trump on Friday voiced support for a Senate measure that would let the US impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from nations still buying Russian energy. “It would be okay with me,” he said. Related Reading: From Dotcom To Crypto: Veteran Analyst Says The Bull Run Isn’t Over Based on reports, the proposal names oil, natural gas, petroleum products and uranium as covered goods and highlights major buyers such as India and China. The move is described as a tool meant to squeeze Russia’s export revenues, but the measure remains proposed and has not become law. Tariffs Up To 500% On Energy Imports Reports have disclosed that the bill would give the President authority to slap punitive duties — as high as 500% — on goods coming from any country judged to be materially trading in Russian energy. JUST IN: ???????????????? President Trump approves bill allowing 500% tariffs on countries trading with Russia. pic.twitter.com/qaBKVUMwTN — BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) November 17, 2025 Lawmakers behind the text say the measure targets energy purchases that help fund Moscow. How the tariff would be applied, and the exact list of goods and exceptions, is still being worked out in committee. Legal experts warn that a 500% duty would raise immediate questions about trade rules and possible retaliation. Immediate Shock To Risk Assets Markets reacted fast. Crypto traders moved to the exits in the first hours after the news, pushing volatility up across major tokens. Nearly $620 million in crypto positions were liquidated in 24 hours, forcing over 152,000 traders out, with a single $30 million BTC-USD order on Hyperliquid being the largest hit. Major altcoins like XRP, Solana, and Cardano saw sharp swings, and Ethereum dropped toward the $3,000 level. Bitcoin took a 1% hit following the news. In the last week, BTC has lost close to 10% of its value since hitting an all-time high of $126k on October 6, 2025. The crypto market is highly sensitive to geopolitical trade shocks. Analysts warn that a proposed 500% tariff on countries trading with Russia—significantly higher than past rates that caused a $200 billion wipeout—could trigger severe panic selling. Analysts believe that if the large-scale tariff is brought into effect, its short-term effect could decrease Bitcoin and major altcoins’ prices by 10% to 20% due to increased economic uncertainty and panic. Related Reading: Forget The Obituaries—Cardano Is Alive, Says Bitcoin Analyst Wider Economic Ripples And Energy Prices If the tariffs were ever applied, energy flows would be disrupted. That could push crude and gas prices higher, and higher energy costs usually feed into inflation. Central banks might respond by holding rates higher for longer, which can hurt risk assets including crypto. Yet, history shows that once a new price regime takes hold, people sometimes seek alternatives to cash and bank deposits. That dynamic is part of why crypto markets are watching this proposal so closely. Featured image from David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images, chart from TradingView
The Finance Ministry noted growing crypto adoption, while the central bank laid out plans to let banks participate under strict capital and reserve requirements.
Monetary Authority of Singapore spokesperson tells CoinDesk that entities not regulated as financial institutions are not subject to sanctions measures.
Singapore made a bold move in its usual foreign policy of neutrality by sanctioning Promsvyazbank, a bank associated with the ruble stablecoin issuer A7A5, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But A7A5 was able to legally
make an appearance at Token2049 because the conference is organized by a Hong Kong entity.
A network of crypto wallets connected to Russian state-linked entities helped move more than $8 billion in digital assets to bypass Western sanctions, according to a Sept. 26 report from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. The findings draw from a trove of recently leaked data exposing how sanctioned Russian businesses relied on stablecoins—particularly Tether’s USDT—to sustain […]
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The UK government has imposed new sanctions on entities tied to Russia’s use of cryptocurrencies to bypass Western restrictions. In an Aug. 20 statement, UK authorities said Russia has turned to Kyrgyz financial institutions and opaque crypto channels to move funds through offshore networks. The UK named Kyrgyzstan’s Capital Bank and its director, Kantemir Chalbayev, […]
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U.S. officials accused Garantex, Grinex, A7A5 token issuers and executives of laundering ransomware proceeds and evading sanctions.
Officials say the list will help identify miners and enforce new tax and energy rules as Russia formalizes the crypto sector.
The Russian Ministry of Energy has introduced a nationwide registry for Bitcoin mining equipment to enforce tax regulations and curb unauthorized activity. According to a report from RIA Novosti, the initiative is the result of a coordinated effort between the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Tax Service, and the Ministry of Digital Development. Authorities have […]
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RUBx, based on the Tron blockchain, will be anchored to the Russian ruble and integrated with the country’s banking system.
Two major Russian insurance firms, Renaissance Life and BCS Life Insurance, have launched investment life insurance policies (ILIPs) linked to Bitcoin, according to a July 2 local media report. According to the report, the innovative policies allow investors to gain exposure to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the largest Bitcoin ETF by assets under management. […]
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Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is also launching bitcoin futures and structure bonds tied to BTC.
The Moscow Exchange lauched IBIT-tied bitcoin futures contracts as Russia gradually broaden local institutional access to cryptocurrency products.
The structured product gives exposure to BTC price changes and USD/RUB exchange shifts.
The Bank of Russia said "financial institutions may offer qualified investors financial derivatives, securities, and digital financial assets whose yields are linked to cryptocurrency prices."
A similar mining scheme occurred in the region in 2022.
Russia’s central bank has announced plans to allow financial institutions to offer crypto-linked investment products to qualified investors, according to a May 28 statement. The Bank of Russia explained that it will allow instruments such as derivatives, tokenized securities, and other digital financial products that reflect crypto price movements. However, these offerings must be non-deliverable, […]
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Ukraine’s crypto card market is shrinking fast. Weld Money, a fintech that let people spend crypto through a Mastercard-linked card, is closing its doors in the country. Users have been told to pull out their money by the end of next month or risk losing access. Related Reading: Tether’s 2-Year, $5 Billion Investment Blitz Fuels US Companies: CEO According to company posts on social media, military controls under martial law and unclear rules drove the decision. The startup began five years ago offering a super-app for bank accounts. In 2022, it teamed up with Unex Bank to roll out a card tied to wallets on WhiteBIT and Huobi (now HTX). You could pay with USDT, USDC, BUSD or DAI at any shop that takes Mastercard. Crypto Card Firm Faces Harsh Controls Based on reports, Weld Money saw service disruptions as checkpoints and tightened checks slowed transactions. Some users flagged problems back in March on the firm’s Telegram channel. Every delay chipped away at the smooth withdrawals and payments that cardholders expected. $WELD Money are shutting down due to military & regulatory limits in Ukraine. Please withdraw funds by June 30 from all wallets & cards. Support — via Telegram: @alexeybobok#WELD #WeldMoney #crypto #shutdown #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/vhHTkS4a0Y — WeldMoney (@MoneyWeld) May 27, 2025 Regulations Hold Back Fintech Growth In April, Ukraine’s securities regulator floated a plan to tax crypto income at 18% and hike a defense surcharge from 1.5% to 5%. Lawmakers have stalled a key bill “On Virtual Assets” that was supposed to clear the fog. Until rules firm up, any company needing stable banking ties will hesitate to launch new services. Other Players Also Pack Up Weld Money isn’t alone. In January, Kuna – a local exchange – said it would halt trading. By March, the Economic Security Bureau, citing tax evasion claims, had even taken down its site. On May 20, wallet provider Trustee Plus stopped new sign-ups, pointing to the same legal doubts. Home-Grown Innovation Faces Exit Based on statements from fintech leaders, rising costs linked to the war aren’t the only issue. New limits on cash flows make budgeting tough. When major payment rails act up, small startups can’t cover tech teams and compliance checks at the same time. Related Reading: Investors Pour $2.75 Billion Into Bitcoin ETFs As Price Skyrockets Outlook Depends On Lawmakers According to analysts following Kyiv, passing the OVA bill could turn the tide. Clear rules on profit taxes and military levies might bring back some confidence. But even then, big global firms with deep compliance staffs are more likely to stay. Ukraine wants to be a hub for blockchain work. Yet, until peace and paperwork catch up, local players may find it too risky. For now, customers will be left scrambling to move funds. And the empty desks at small crypto firms will stand as proof that, in a country under martial law, uncertainty is costly. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
Russian authorities are intensifying their crackdown on domestic crypto payments with a new bill that proposes steep penalties and asset seizures. According to local reports, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank have jointly submitted draft legislation that could see individuals fined up to 200,000 rubles and companies penalized up to 1 million rubles […]
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Smerkis worked for Binance from 2022 for just under two years.