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.
The Central Bank of Russia has ranked Bitcoin as the most profitable investment over the past year, outperforming traditional assets such as gold, stocks, and bonds. In a newly published analysis, the regulator noted that Bitcoin delivered a 38% return in the last 12 months, ranking highest among the asset classes it evaluated. Looking further […]
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Rising geopolitical tensions and the Donald Trump administration’s tariffs are pushing nations to reconsider their dependence on the US financial system. A new report from investment management firm VanEck highlights how the US weaponization of trade and financial infrastructure drives increased interest in neutral payment systems. Once viewed as theoretical, these settlement rails are now […]
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Russia is moving closer to selling Bitcoin confiscated during criminal investigations as officials work to create a legal structure for handling such digital assets, local media outlet RBC reported. According to the report, Russia’s Federal Bailiff Service, in coordination with other government agencies, is leading efforts to turn seized crypto into government revenue. Dmitry Aristov, […]
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Blockchain security firm TRM Labs reported that Russian-language darknet marketplaces dominated crypto-linked drug transactions in 2024. According to the report, the platforms were behind more than 97% of the drug-related crypto activity on the Bitcoin and TRON networks. That translates to around $1.65 billion out of the $1.7 billion traced to drug trade on both […]
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While fiat currencies remain the primary method, crypto is seen as a convenient and flexible tool for transactions.
Russia has started using crypto for oil trades with China and India as it seeks to bypass Western sanctions, Reuters reported on March 14, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, some Russian oil companies have settled trades in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins like Tether’s USDT. This strategy simplifies the conversion of […]
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The Central Bank of Russia announced a new proposal to allow qualified investors to trade crypto in a three-year experimental timeframe.
The central banks aims to establish standards for crypto-related services and increase market transparency while expanding investment opportunities for wealthy investors.
Also giving a boost was an easing in trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
Russia’s Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev has dismissed speculation about including cryptocurrencies in the country’s National Wealth Fund (NWF). Earlier in the week, local media outlet Interfax reported that Kolychev clarified that the Ministry of Finance has no plans to alter the NWF’s investment structure to accommodate crypto due to their high volatility. Kolychev explained […]
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Sanctioned crypto exchange Garantex has halted operations following Tether’s decision to freeze $27 million worth of USDT on the platform. In a March 6 announcement on Telegram, the exchange confirmed a temporary suspension of crypto trading and withdrawals, citing Tether’s decision to freeze its funds. According to the firm: “Tether has entered the war against […]
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"Tether has entered the war against the Russian crypto market and blocked our wallets worth over 2.5 billion rubles," Garantex said.
Russia’s Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank are reportedly working on a controlled crypto trading framework for select high-net-worth investors. On March 5, local media outlet Interfax reported that officials were exploring an experimental project allowing specific entities to engage in digital asset trading under a structured legal environment. Aleksey Yakovlev, head of the […]
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Russia’s central bank has postponed the full-scale launch of its digital ruble project indefinitely, according to a report from local media outlet TASS. Russia’s central bank began testing its digital currency in August 2023 with a limited pilot program. The initiative involved 12 banks and around 600 employees, who tested wallet functionalities, transfers, and automated […]
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The European Union has taken action against Garantex, a Russia-based crypto exchange, as part of its 16th sanctions package targeting entities linked to the Ukraine conflict. In a statement released on Feb. 24, the EU identified Garantex as a key player in facilitating Russia’s efforts to bypass financial restrictions. The council cited the exchange’s close […]
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A new report from the analytics firm says that sanctioned jurisdictions and groups were responsible for 39% of illicit crypto transactions last year.
Russian energy provider Rosseti reportedly saw a significant financial hit due to illegal crypto mining in 2024, with losses amounting to approximately 1.3 billion rubles ($14.2 million). On Feb. 18, local media outlet Tass reported that Rosseti said these losses stem from unauthorized electricity consumption across multiple regions, with the North Caucasus Grid alone accounting […]
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