Russia | Crypto

Russia’s recent messaging crackdown is the cleanest real-world stress test of decentralization in years, and it produced an awkward result. Roskomnadzor began throttling Telegram on Feb. 10, citing “non-compliance.” Two days later, authorities fully blocked WhatsApp, removing its domains from Russia's national registry and forcing users toward VPNs or MAX, a state-backed messenger that critics […] The post Russia’s censorship crackdown and WhatsApp ban expose the decentralization gap the crypto industry keeps missing appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Russian news outlets reported on Wednesday that WhatsApp’s domain had been completely blocked and was inaccessible without a VPN or another workaround. WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by social media giant Meta, has accused Russia of attempting to block access for millions of its users to push them towards its state-owned alternative. “Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backward step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,” the company said in an X post on Wednesday. Moscow’s state-backed platform Max was launched in March 2025 by Russian tech firm VK as a domestic alternative to foreign-owned services such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Read more

The EU plans to ban crypto transactions with Russia by shutting down all related channels, but analysts question whether the measure is fully enforceable. The European Union is finalizing a new package of sanctions aimed at closing loopholes that officials say have allowed Russia to use cryptocurrency to circumvent existing restrictions. The EU is seeking to “ban all cryptocurrency transactions with Russia” as part of the upcoming 20th sanctions package, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Unlike previous efforts targeting Russia-linked entities spun out of already sanctioned platforms, the newly proposed measures are broader and are designed to close Russia’s crypto loophole entirely. Read more

The European Commission's 20th sanctions package proposes a comprehensive ban on all cryptocurrency transactions involving Russia, an escalation from targeting specific bad actors to attempting to sanitize the rails themselves. The question is whether the EU can raise the cost of evasion sufficiently by controlling chokepoints: regulated exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and third-country financial intermediaries. The […] The post Blanket crypto ban targets Russia rails but one chokepoint decides whether flows die or just relocate offshore appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Russia’s biggest bank said it plans to offer loans secured by cryptocurrency following a pilot deal with a mining firm, with legislation expected by mid-2026.

BitRiver, Russia's largest Bitcoin mining operation controlling over 50% of the national market, is spiraling toward bankruptcy following a court-ordered observation proceeding against its parent company over a $9.2 million debt claim, compounded by regional mining bans, energy disputes, and the recent detention of CEO Igor Runets on tax evasion charges. The post Russia’s Largest Bitcoin Miner BitRiver Faces Bankruptcy Crisis – What Went Wrong? appeared first on Cryptonews.

India is urging other countries to develop CBDCs, and China is expanding the use of its digital yuan, allowing banks to offer interest on e-CNY wallets. Russia’s Ministry of Justice has proposed new fines for unregistered cryptocurrency miners. This comes after the finance minister raised concerns about the rise in unauthorized mining activities. A draft bill proposed by the ministry would impose a fine of 1.5 million rubles (about $19,000) and up to two years in a labor colony. Illegal mining involving “outsized profits” could see a maximum of five years in prison, 480 hours of forced labor and a fine of up to 2.5 million rubles. Unregistered miners are a growing problem in Russia, where only 30% have registered their operations as of June 19, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Ivan Chebeskov. Read more

Russia’s justice ministry proposed fines and prison for illegal crypto mining, as officials say most miners still haven’t joined the tax register. Russia has proposed a new draft bill seeking to crack down on unregistered cryptocurrency miners in the country, following concerns from the finance minister about illegal mining activity. Russia’s Ministry of Justice has proposed imposing penalties of up to 1.5 million rubles (about $19,000) and up to two years of forced labor for illegal cryptocurrency mining, according to new draft amendments to the Criminal Code, published on Monday. For crypto mining activities involving outsized profits, the maximum sentence could reach up to five years in prison, 480 hours of forced labor, and a fine of up to 2.5 million rubles. Read more

Sberbank's Deputy Chairman signals readiness for crypto-collateral lending while Moscow and St. Petersburg exchanges confirm infrastructure preparations as Russia races toward its July 2026 regulatory framework governing the country's $376.3 billion crypto market. The post Russia’s Largest Bank Considers Launching Crypto-Collateral Lending appeared first on Cryptonews.

Russian President Putin said that the US is interested in crypto mining at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The post Russia, US Discuss Bitcoin Mining at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Sidelines Ukraine appeared first on Cryptonews.

Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange announced preparation for regulated cryptocurrency trading following Russia's legislative deadline of July 2026, with qualified investors gaining unrestricted access while retail traders face annual purchase caps of approximately $3,800. The post Russia’s Top Stock Exchanges Ready to Launch Crypto Trading by 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bank of Russia outlined a new framework intended to let retail and qualified investors buy crypto under defined tests and caps by 2027.

Russia’s central bank has submitted draft that would allow non-qualified investors to purchase crypto, but only under strict conditions. The Bank of Russia put forward a policy proposal that would allow non-qualified investors to buy certain cryptocurrencies. According to a Tuesday announcement, the central bank’s proposal would allow both qualified and non-qualified investors to buy most crypto, but with limitations. Non-qualified investors would be limited to a yet-to-be-defined set of liquid crypto after passing a knowledge test, capped at 300,000 rubles ($3,834) a year. Qualified investors would gain broad market access excluding privacy coins, also subject to a knowledge test. Read more

Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, is expanding its push into digital finance as it tests decentralized finance (DeFi) tools and rolls out investment products linked to cryptocurrencies. The post Russia’s Sberbank Tests DeFi Tools, Offers Crypto Investment Products appeared first on Cryptonews.

Belarus blocked major crypto exchange domains the same day Russia signaled it may ease regulated crypto access requirements while clamping down on the gray market. The Belarusian Ministry of Information has blocked access to crypto exchanges Bybit, OKX, Bitget, Gate, Bingx and Weex, it said on Thursday. According to a government announcement, the ministry has restricted access to the global domains of several crypto exchanges, citing “inappropriate advertising” under Article 511 of the Law on Mass Media. Cointelegraph reached out to the blocked exchanges but had not received responses at the time of publication. Read more

Russia’s central bank is considering scrapping its strict requirements for crypto transactions as sanctions make it hard for Russians to transact internationally. An official from the Bank of Russia suggested easing restrictions on cryptocurrencies in response to the sweeping sanctions imposed on the country. According to a Monday report by local news outlet Kommersant, Bank of Russia First Deputy Governor Vladimir Chistyukhin said the regulator is discussing easing regulations for cryptocurrencies. He explicitly linked the rationale for this effort to the sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Chistyukhin said that easing the crypto rules is particularly relevant when Russia and Russians are subject to restrictions “on the use of normal currencies for making payments abroad.” Read more

Russia’s rapid DeFi expansion and increase in large-value transfers indicate growing adoption of crypto for financial services, according to Chainalysis. Crypto adoption in European countries like the United Kingdom and Germany is lagging behind Russia, according to the latest report from US blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. Russia emerged as the leading crypto market in Chainalysis’ latest European Crypto Adoption report, receiving $376.3 billion in crypto between July 2024 and June 2025. Published Thursday, the report combines analyses of regions previously examined separately, covering Central, Northern, and Western Europe, as well as Eastern Europe as a whole. Read more

Russia’s Central Bank wants to use tokenization solutions to grant foreign buyers access to shares in domestic companies. The post Russia’s Central Bank: Tokenization Will Let Foreigners Buy Domestic Shares appeared first on Cryptonews.

The European Union is looking to block Russian crypto transactions, marking the first time that sanctions have directly targeted cryptocurrency platforms. The European Union will include cryptocurrency platforms in its latest financial sanctions against Russia, marking the first time digital asset services have been directly targeted. The measures, part of the bloc’s 19th sanctions package, prohibit all cryptocurrency transactions for Russian residents and restrict dealings with foreign banks tied to Russia’s alternative payment systems, according to a statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen published Friday. The package also seeks to block transactions with entities operating in Russian special economic zones. Read more

According to Gold Telegraph, it’s “likely” that Russia is buying silver for its reserves, sending shockwaves through precious metals markets. For the first time, a central bank is disclosed to be actively accumulating silver, marking a sharp shift in global reserve strategy and a “monumental” moment for silver itself. A new era if Russia is […] The post ‘Monumental’: Russia is likely buying silver for its reserves appeared first on CryptoSlate.