Tagged: russia

September 16, 2026 @ 11:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia has begun the first nationwide stage of its digital ruble, a central bank digital currency that now sits alongside cash and ordinary bank money as a third official form of the national currency. The change took effect on 1 September 2026 after years of… Read More

September 7, 2026 @ 8:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russian investors behind a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform have started international arbitration against Uzbekistan, arguing that a commercial joint venture with a state-owned bank collapsed into coercion, expropriation and the detention of a local executive. Counsel for Solfy RUS LLC and its shareholder Maksim Poletaev say… Read More

September 3, 2026 @ 1:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s largest bank has issued a cautious but sizable outlook for the country’s newly legalized cryptocurrency market. Sberbank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov said licensed trading platforms could handle roughly 3.5 trillion to 4 trillion rubles—about $46 billion—during the first 12 months after the rules take… Read More

August 29, 2026 @ 6:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has asked the Speaker of the Sejm to schedule another vote on President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of the crypto-assets market law, arguing that the Zondacrypto affair has made further delay politically and practically indefensible. Tusk made the request on Friday… Read More

August 24, 2026 @ 10:40 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A recent academic analysis indicates that elevated carbon pricing within the European Union could be redirecting greenhouse gas emissions linked to cryptocurrency mining toward Russia. This dynamic represents a form of carbon leakage that current EU policy tools struggle to address effectively. The research examines… Read More

August 24, 2026 @ 4:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s central bank has relaxed the criteria for individuals seeking qualified investor status by introducing a domestic financial knowledge examination and related certificates. The change, set to take effect on August 31, 2026, aims to make the designation more attainable through demonstrated understanding of markets… Read More

August 18, 2026 @ 4:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Binance reportedly provided personal and transaction details belonging to one of its clients to Russian law enforcement agencies. The information later formed part of the evidence in a terrorism-financing case linked to donations supporting Ukrainian causes. This occurred well after the exchange publicly declared it… Read More

August 6, 2026 @ 9:23 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally approved legislation creating the nation’s first comprehensive rules governing the circulation of digital currencies and digital rights. The measure, signed on August 4, 2026, establishes clear operational standards for a range of market participants, including cryptocurrency exchanges, digital asset… Read More

August 2, 2026 @ 5:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Elliptic has pointed out that A7A5 emerged as a specialized digital asset designed to help Russian firms navigate international restrictions. Pegged to the ruble and launched in early 2025 by entities tied to sanctioned Russian interests, including a state-linked bank and a controversial figure with… Read More

August 2, 2026 @ 10:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russian officials have enacted a significant expansion of restrictions on digital currency mining, targeting the nation’s capital and nearby territories in a move driven by concerns over electricity demand. Under a government resolution, activities involving the extraction of cryptocurrency, including involvement in mining pools, will… Read More

July 29, 2026 @ 5:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s Federal Security Service has formally accused Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging platform Telegram, of facilitating terrorist activities and has issued an international arrest warrant for him. On July 29, 2026, the FSB announced that Durov, who heads Telegram’s administration, faces charges… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 8:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chainalysis has pointed out that on July 23, 2026, the European Union adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, representing the most extensive set of designations in four years and encompassing 218 listings overall. The measures focus heavily on disrupting Russia’s financial systems that… Read More

July 22, 2026 @ 10:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s lower house of parliament has introduced and advanced legislation aimed at establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The move reflects the country’s evolving stance on digital currencies, balancing innovation, economic utility in international trade, and strict oversight to mitigate risks for ordinary citizens…. Read More

July 4, 2026 @ 4:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s central bank has completed all necessary preparations for the large-scale rollout of its digital ruble, with support for transactions set to begin on September 1, 2026. Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina confirmed during a recent financial congress that the technological infrastructure is fully… Read More

June 17, 2026 @ 8:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On June 15, 2026, the European Union rolled out a new wave of restrictive measures aimed at curbing Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs highlighted how these actions target key pillars supporting Moscow’s efforts, including its defense industry, energy exports,… Read More

June 13, 2026 @ 3:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A recent collaborative probe has shed new light on Russia’s sophisticated sanctions-evasion strategies, highlighting the role of digital assets in a financial setup known as the A7 network. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs joined forces with the Open Source Centre to scrutinize this system, drawing… Read More

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