Sberbank to Conduct First Digital Asset Transaction on Own Platform

Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is going to carry out the first transfer of digital assets on its own dedicated platform within a month, a top executive revealed this week. The announcement comes after earlier this year, the bank was authorized to issue digital financial assets. Sberbank Prepares for Deal With Digital Financial Assets on Proprietary … Read more

Russia’s First Digital Financial Assets Expected This Year, Lawmaker Says

The first digital financial assets based on Russian blockchains may be issued as early as this year, a high-ranking parliamentarian announced. Three platforms are already registered as issuers, said Anatoly Aksakov, who chairs the Financial Market Committee at the State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament. Russian Digital Financial Assets Likely to Appear by … Read more

Crypto Assets Can Help Russia Return to Global Financial Market, Lawmaker Says

Digital financial assets like cryptocurrencies can help Russia to reach the global financial market despite western sanctions, a lawmaker working on crypto regulations has stated. The official believes the country is capable of setting up domestic crypto exchanges and should support mining. Russia Can Establish Own Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Deputy Insists The crypto space is an … Read more

Bank of Russia Pushes to Introduce Liability for Illegal Use of Digital Assets

The monetary authority in Moscow, the Bank of Russia, wants those who use cryptocurrencies against the law to be held accountable. The financial regulator has proposed the introduction of legal liability for some operations with digital assets which it considers illegal. Central Bank of Russia Aims to Prevent Circulation of Decentralized Currencies Cryptocurrencies in the … Read more

Federal Security Service of Russia Seeks Powers to Obtain Information From Crypto Platforms

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has issued a draft order allowing its agents to request information from cryptocurrency platforms among other organizations. The move follows changes made to the anti-corruption legislation in Russia, the agency noted. FSB Wants Access to Crypto Data for Anti-Corruption Checks in Russia Russia’s main law enforcement agency, … Read more

Russia Not Ready for Bitcoin as Legal Tender, Putin’s Spokesman Peskov Says

Russia has no reason to recognize bitcoin, President Putin’s press secretary has noted after El Salvador became the first country to adopt the digital coin as legal tender. In a statement to the press, Dmitry Peskov revealed he is convinced that such a move would not bring any benefits to the Russian Federation. Kremlin Not … Read more

Putin Orders Russian Government to Prepare to Check Officials With Crypto Assets

President Vladimir Putin has tasked several ministries and the central bank to prepare to verify information provided by government employees about their digital asset holdings. The order comes as part of a new plan to combat corruption which was recently approved by the Russian leader. Authorities to Inspect Crypto Disclosures Filed by Russian Officials as … Read more

Bank of Russia Advises Stock Exchanges to Avoid Trading Crypto Instruments

In line with its hardline stance on cryptocurrencies, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has issued a recommendation against the listing of securities tied to crypto assets on the country’s stock exchanges. The “preventive measure” will not affect state-issued digital currencies. Bank of Russia Worried About Common Investors’ Exposure to Crypto Derivatives Russia’s central banking … Read more

Study Shows 36% of Nigerian Adults Are Financially Excluded — Digital Financial Services Bolsters Inclusion

Nearly 36% of Nigeria’s 106 million adults lack access to both regulated and unregulated financial services, according to the findings of the Enhancing Financial Innovations and Access (EFIA) study. In addition, while the findings do suggest a marginal drop in the percentage of financially excluded adults in the past few years, overall “the actual number … Read more

Russia Regulates Digital Rights, Advances Other Crypto-Related Bills

After much deliberation in the past months and years, Moscow has recently taken important steps toward regulating the crypto space. These are part of the efforts to open the way for the development of the Russian digital economy. The country, heavily dependent on energy exports and hurt by Western sanctions, needs alternative sources of revenue … Read more