Bank of Russia News

Belarus blocked major crypto exchange domains the same day Russia signaled it may ease regulated crypto access requirements while clamping down on the gray market.

Russia’s central bank is considering scrapping its strict requirements for crypto transactions as sanctions make it hard for Russians to transact internationally.

Russian oil companies have increasingly relied on digital assets and crypto platforms to circumvent financial sanctions, according to the European Commission.

The European Union is looking to block Russian crypto transactions, marking the first time that sanctions have directly targeted cryptocurrency platforms.

The UK sanctioned Kyrgyz banks, crypto exchanges and individuals tied to Russia’s ruble-backed stablecoin.

Russia’s largest commercial bank, Sber, launched a Bitcoin-linked bond product that’s now trading on OTC markets and may soon be listed on the country's top stock exchange.

Russian banks have started rolling out crypto investment products tied to the price of Bitcoin following a greenlight from the central bank.

Russia’s central bank announced a proposal in March to allow a limited number of Russian investors with a certain amount of assets to buy and sell cryptocurrencies under a three-year experimental regime.

Ripple faces a $125 million civil penalty after a federal judge rules in favor of the SEC, rejecting the agency’s $2 billion claim.

Russia explores other forms of international trade settlement following US sanctions blocking it from the SWIFT interbank messaging system.

The most common hindrances cited include insufficient information about the technology (22%) and concerns about cybertheft and system failures (21%).

According to Olga Skorobogatova, first deputy governor of the Bank of Russia, initiating pilot operations using genuine digital rubles represents a pivotal phase within the project.

From 2025 business-to-business transactions will cost $0.16 each, while individual customers will pay 0.3% of the total transaction sum when transferring to commercial accounts.

Russian citizens will not be forced to use the digital ruble, and use of the CBDC will be a voluntary choice for people to make, the governor of the Bank of Russia said.

2025–2027 might still seem far away, but the Central Bank of Russia is preparing its CBDC for mass adoption by then.