US Treasury ‘Very Attentive’ to Russia’s Use of Cryptocurrency, Yellen Says

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has addressed concerns about Russia using cryptocurrency to evade sanctions. During her testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Yellen acknowledged the potential threat, noting that while it may not be a significant issue now, it could become more concerning as sanctions intensify. Yellen: We Are Very Attentive to the … Read more

Bank of Russia Discusses Conditions of Upcoming Stablecoin Regulation

The Bank of Russia has highlighted the conditions it will need to consider when regulating the use of stablecoins for Russian individuals and companies. The bank stated that before a regulation is enacted, a thorough study of these assets and a discussion with the relevant actors of the market and the community around them should … Read more

Russian Central Bank Suggests Using Crypto to Counter Western Sanctions

Russia’s central bank has urged businesses to consider various payment solutions, including cryptocurrencies and digital assets, to manage transactions with foreign partners and counter Western sanctions. Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina highlighted that the central bank has softened its stance on the use of cryptocurrencies in international payments. She also mentioned ongoing efforts to … Read more

Bank of Russia and Rosfinmonitoring Reveal Fiat-to-Crypto Tracking System Pilot

The Bank of Russia and Rosfinmonitoring revealed the existence of a ‘know your crypto customer’ system pilot, that aims to link the fiat operations of crypto users with their blockchain actions. The pilot, which has been ongoing since 2023, involves five banks in Russia and is expected to run until April, but can be extended. … Read more

Russian Duma Financial Market Chairman States Digital Financial Assets Might Replace Fiat for International Payments

Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on the Financial Market Anatoly Aksakov stated that digital financial assets, issued by institutions regulated by the central bank, could replace fiat channels for international settlements. Aksakov also acknowledged that while not being controlled for this use case, digital assets were already being used to settle international payments. … Read more

Bank of Russia Supports Cryptocurrency Usage for International Settlements

The Bank of Russia has announced that it will support accelerating the adoption of cryptocurrency payments for international settlements. According to Elvira Nabiullina, governor of the Bank of Russia, these crypto-based payments must be launched in a sandbox-style experimental regime. In contrast, payments with national digital assets will be launched without similar precautions. Bank of … Read more

Bank of Russia: Russians Transacted $51 Billion in Crypto During 2023

The Bank of Russia noted that Russian nationals transacted $51 billion (4.78 trillion rubles) in crypto during 2023. According to an annual report issued by the bank, its investigations found that volume flows equivalent to the number, especially in bitcoin and ether, were attributed to Russian nationals in large exchanges. Bank of Russia Reports High … Read more

Bank of Russia Detected Over 5,700 Pyramid Schemes in 2023

The Bank of Russia reported that the number of pyramid schemes and illegal lending providers in Russia rose to over 5,700 in 2023, an increase of 15.5% over the number detected in 2022. Specifically, the number of pyramid schemes detected increased by 46%, relying on the Internet and cryptocurrency as tools for promoting and carrying … Read more