Tagged: russia

May 6, 2026 @ 3:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s securities marketplace, the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), has unveiled plans to significantly expand its lineup of cryptocurrency indices by incorporating four prominent digital assets. Beginning May 13, 2026, the exchange will start calculating and disseminating real-time benchmarks for Solana, XRP, TRON, and Binance Coin (BNB)…. Read More

April 17, 2026 @ 12:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On April 16, 2026, Grinex—a cryptocurrency exchange registered in Kyrgyzstan but deeply connected to Russian financial networks—suspended all operations after suffering a large-scale cyber intrusion. The platform stated that hackers had drained user assets worth approximately $15 million, equivalent to more than one billion Russian… Read More

February 23, 2026 @ 2:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a detailed analysis released on February 21, 2026, blockchain analytics firm Elliptic has shed new light on how several cryptocurrency platforms with deep ties to Russia continue to facilitate the circumvention of Western sanctions. These services enable Russian entities to convert rubles into digital… Read More

December 31, 2025 @ 8:52 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant recent move to conclude its long-standing withdrawal from the Russian market, Citigroup (NYSE: C) has reportedly received board approval to divest its last operational entity there, AO Citibank, to Moscow-based investment bank Renaissance Capital. This decision, announced on December 29, 2025, marks… Read More

December 27, 2025 @ 8:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

TRM Labs says it has traced stolen crypto from 2022 LastPass Breach with on-chain indicators suggesting Russian cybercriminal involvement. The blockchain focused security and analytics firm shared key insights on these latest findings along with other pertinent details. The TRM team has also shared some… Read More

December 26, 2025 @ 3:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s financial platforms, the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) and the St. Petersburg Exchange, are poised to introduce cryptocurrency trading services as soon as the necessary regulations are approved. This development follows a recent outline from the Bank of Russia proposing controlled access to digital assets for… Read More

November 9, 2025 @ 7:44 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

A new report from LexisNexis Risk Solutions suggests sanctions activity has moderated since a flurry caused by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Sanctions Pulse analyzes data from the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the UK Office… Read More

July 28, 2025 @ 4:40 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the ecosystem of blockchain and cryptocurrency, a new entity has emerged and is making a significant impact: A7A5, a Russian ruble-pegged stablecoin that has gained traction, now reportedly facilitating over $1 billion in daily transactions. Launched earlier this year in Kyrgyzstan, A7A5 has reportedly… Read More

July 11, 2025 @ 6:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Kaspersky GReAT (Global Research and Analysis Team) professionals have discovered open-source packages that download the Quasar backdoor and a stealer designed to exfiltrate cryptocurrency. The malicious packages are intended “for the Cursor development environment, which is based on Visual Studio Code — a tool used… Read More

July 3, 2025 @ 11:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Aeza Group, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) services provider, for its role in facilitating cybercriminal activities targeting victims in the United States and globally. Bulletproof hosting… Read More

April 24, 2025 @ 4:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry are preparing to introduce a specialized cryptocurrency exchange tailored for qualified investors. This initiative, set to operate under an experimental legal framework, marks a significant step toward (what appears to be) legalizing crypto assets in the country. The exchange… Read More

March 12, 2025 @ 9:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On March 7, 2025, the US Department of Justice (DOJ), in an operation alongside authorities in Germany and Finland, announced the disruption of Garantex, a Russia-based cryptocurrency exchange allegedly known for its deep ties to the global cybercrime economy. This coordinated effort resulted in the… Read More

February 22, 2025 @ 5:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The blockchain and crypto ecosystem last year was marked by significant illicit activity, with sanctioned entities and jurisdictions playing a major role, according to Chainalysis’s latest report, entitled “2025 Crypto Crime Trends: Sanctions.” The blockchain analytics firm reveals that $15.8 billion in crypto flowed to… Read More

January 29, 2025 @ 7:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A London-based financial services startup, Stenn Group, has reportedly entered administration, leaving creditors facing losses of over £100 million. The company, which specialized in invoice finance, had been under investigation by HSBC, its lender, following allegations of links to a Russian money laundering case. As… Read More

January 27, 2025 @ 5:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s largest power grid operator, Rosseti, is venturing into Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto mining by leveraging its underutilized power centers. The state-owned energy provider aims to become a key coordinator for mining infrastructure deployment across the country, as reported by TASS. Rosseti sees crypto mining… Read More

December 1, 2024 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Earlier this week, Russia reportedly approved a cryptocurrency-focused tax law which recognizes Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto-assets as property (somewhat similar to what Chinese courts has determined several years back). The legislation, which was reportedly approved on November 27, 2024, formally acknowledges Bitcoin / other virtual… Read More

October 1, 2024 @ 10:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning individuals and entities affiliated with Evil Corp, a cybercriminal operation based in Russia. OFAC is taking the action in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and… Read More

September 6, 2024 @ 8:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chainalysis has shared key insights focused on Russia’s cryptocurrency pivot as well as legislated sanctions “evasion.” In response to mounting financial pressures of Western sanctions, Russia enacted significant legislation “legalizing cryptocurrency mining and permitting the use of cryptocurrency for international payments.” Chainalysis added that the… Read More

April 13, 2024 @ 1:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Alfa-Bank has achieved a significant technological milestone by becoming the first bank in Russia to launch its mobile banking application, Alfa-Online, on the domestic Aurora operating system, now updated to its fifth version. This initiative marks a notable advancement in the integration of Russian-developed technology… Read More

March 26, 2024 @ 3:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned thirteen entities and two individuals for operating in the financial services and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy “including persons developing or offering services in virtual assets that enable the evasion of… Read More