Russia | Crypto

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.

The UK sanctioned Kyrgyz banks, crypto exchanges and individuals tied to Russia’s ruble-backed stablecoin. The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Kyrgyzstan’s financial sector and crypto networks it said were used by Russia to bypass Western restrictions, targeting an alleged $9.3 billion, ruble-backed stablecoin operation. The new measures build on more than 2,700 existing UK sanctions against Russia and follow a similar move last week by the United States, the UK government said in a Wednesday announcement. Among those sanctioned was Capital Bank of Central Asia and its director, Kantemir Chalbayev, which the UK claims Russia used to finance military goods. Two Kyrgyz crypto exchanges, Grinex and Meer, were also blacklisted, along with entities tied to the infrastructure supporting the A7A5 stablecoin. Read more

CBDC-themed fraud is on the rise in Russia, the country’s Central Bank has warned, as Moscow prepares to start paying digital ruble pension benefits. The post CBDC Fraud Cases on Rise in Russia as Moscow Prepares to Pay Pensions in Digital RUB appeared first on Cryptonews.

Russia’s Sberbank has submitted proposals to let customers store crypto under bank custody, letting tokens be frozen on law-enforcement request while reducing hack risks. The move reflects Moscow’s shift toward regulated digital assets amid sanctions and a scheduled 2026 digital ruble launch. The post Russia’s Sberbank Seeks Green Light for Crypto Custody Amid Regulatory Push appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Russian government is poised to ban domestic data processing centers from mining crypto if they use subsidized power. The post Russia to Block Data Processing Centers from Mining Crypto with Cheap Power appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Russian digital ruble, the nation’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), will finally launch nationwide on September 1, 2026, the Central Bank claims. The post Russia’s Digital Ruble to Roll Out in September 2026, Says Central Bank appeared first on Cryptonews.

Russia will continue taking measures to encourage crypto mining businesses to register with the tax authority, including imposing bigger penalties for violations. Russia’s cryptocurrency laws have not convinced most mining businesses to register with authorities, as only 30% of the miners have entered the Federal Tax Service Register since late 2024. The Russian government began enforcing two crypto mining-related bills in October and November 2024, introducing legal definitions and registration requirements for mining businesses. Still, 70% of the miners remain underground, Finance Ministry official Ivan Chebeskov said, according to a report by local news agency TASS on Thursday. Read more

Illegal crypto miners operating in Russia could lose their coins and face heavy fines under new rules formulated by the nation’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media. The post Russia Set to Fine, Confiscate Coins from Illegal Crypto Miners appeared first on Cryptonews.

Chainalysis has reported Darknet Market crypto revenue down 15% in 2024 to roughly $2 billion, yet Russia has surged. ‘Kraken’ has overtaken rivals, raising income 68% as operators ditch Bitcoin for Monero and channel funds through DeFi to skirt exchange KYC. The post Russia’s ‘Kraken’ Darknet Market Crypto Sales Soar 68% as Global Trade Falls appeared first on Cryptonews.

The co-founder of Telegram-based crypto project Blum, Vladimir Smerkis, is in custody in Moscow over accusations that he committed large-scale fraud, TASS reports. Vladimir Smerkis, a co-founder of the Telegram-based crypto project Blum, has reportedly been arrested in Moscow, Russia, on fraud allegations, amid Blum confirming he is no longer affiliated with the project. The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow approved a request from investigators to keep Smerkis in custody while he is being investigated, Russian state-owned news outlet TASS reported on May 18. Smerkis — who previously ran operations for Binance in Russia — is suspected of committing fraud on a “large scale,” pursuant to Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, violations of which can result in imprisonment ranging from two to 12 years. Read more

New Russian Central Bank crypto regulations could effectively outlaw Tether (USDT) trading in the country, experts have explained. The post New Central Bank Crypto Rules ‘Will Ban USDT Trading in Russia’ appeared first on Cryptonews.