Election Candidates in Russia to Disclose Crypto Investments, New Bill Suggests

A new bill obliging candidates running for election in Russia to declare their spending on digital assets has hit the floor of the State Duma. According to the draft, Russian politicians will be required to disclose details about every crypto purchase they and their families make, if the total exceeds a certain amount. Candidates to … Read more

Russia’s Supreme Court Recognizes Tokens as Assets Like Money and Property

A phenomenon like bitcoin can gain recognition, including regulatory, in many different and often unexpected ways. Governments that hesitate to accept cryptocurrencies as legal tender, sometimes validate their existence indirectly and even acknowledge they can be used for payments. Taxing crypto incomes and profits is one such example. Russia has just provided another one by … Read more

Russia’s Minister of Justice: Cryptocurrencies Don’t Need to Be Legally Defined Yet

Russia’s stance on cryptocurrency remains unclear after the Minister of Justice this week announced that there is still no need to formalize crypto-related legislation. This is because digital assets cannot be used as a means of payment, it asserts, because the constitution forbids it.  Also Read: Over 50 Bitcoin ATMs Operate Legally in Russia, Study Finds  … Read more

Pavel Durov Closes UK-Based Company Telegram Messenger LLP

Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov is liquidating Telegram Messenger LLP, the Britain-based company behind the popular messaging service Telegram. The same entity is registered as the messenger’s operator in the Russian Federation, where Telegram is currently banned. Also read: 5 Crypto Exchanges Have Been Licensed in Gibraltar Since Regulation Application for Voluntary Strike Off Filed in … Read more

Developing an ICO Project in Russia Can Cost as Little as $1,500

The average cost to develop an ICO project in Russia is hovering around $18,000 USD but the price can go down to as little as $1,500, according to a study that explores the market for such services. The hourly rate for a blockchain developer is averaging a little over $44, the authors found after surveying … Read more

Strong Demand for Crypto Experts on the Russian Labor Market

Statistics from leading job search platforms indicate that the demand for cryptocurrency and blockchain specialists in Russia remains strong. Most employers offering these vacancies are either IT companies or banks. The competition for crypto expertise is getting tougher, as the country is preparing to finally regulate the fintech sector.   Also read: Crypto Incomes Declared … Read more

Crypto Incomes Declared on Tax Returns in Russia

Taxpayers in Russia have started declaring incomes and profits from crypto transactions even before cryptocurrencies are legalized in the country, results from this year’s tax campaign show. The Finance Ministry has again clarified the applicable tax rules, while the State Duma is still fine-tuning the upcoming regulations. Also read: Russian Railways Eyes Crypto for Tickets, … Read more

Alleged BTC-e Mastermind Confesses to Russian Money Laundering Charges

According to regional publications in Russia, the alleged BTC-e mastermind and prisoner in Greece, Alexander Vinnik, has allegedly confessed to charges of fraud and money laundering on May 24, 2018. Reports reveal a signed document details that Vinnik admits to committing financial fraud between 2011-2017 through the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. Also read: This Week in … Read more

Cryptocurrency is Property in Russia, Justice Minister Confirms

The Russian Ministry of Justice has taken side in what looks like a lively debate about the status of cryptocurrencies that are still unregulated in the country. A bankruptcy case involving a modest amount of bitcoin has sparked discussions in Russian legal circles. Some say a crypto is nothing more than “a set of characters.” … Read more

Yes, You Can Buy Your World Cup Ticket with Bitcoin

Russian crypto-media have asked a meaningful question – why World Cup tickets can’t be bought with cryptocurrency. Credit card payments and bank transfers are currently accepted, but are they an option for every fan who wants to go to the stadium? And, is it really impossible to get a ticket with your bitcoin? Also read: … Read more