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US Blacklists Bitcoin, Ether Addresses Tied to Russian Sanctions Evasion Efforts
1.2.2023
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), its sanctions watchdog, has blacklisted a bitcoin and an ether address tied to sanctions evasion
Russians Offered Ready-made Crypto Exchange Accounts Amid Restrictions
31.1.2023
Russian crypto traders have been looking to obtain unrestricted accounts for global exchanges as their access to such platforms is limited. Over the past year, the offering of such accounts on the dark web has increased significantly, cybersecurity experts told the Russian press. Supply of Crypto...
Ban on Crypto Mining in Residential Areas Proposed in Russia
28.1.2023
Advisors to the Kremlin have suggested that home crypto mining should be banned in Russia, or in some of its regions. The stated motive for the proposal is to prevent fires in residential buildings. Amateur miners have been blamed for high loads on the grid causing breakdowns and blackouts. Energy...
Russia Mulls Gold-backed Stablecoin, Lawmaker Confirms After Iran Visit
27.1.2023
Russia may issue a stablecoin backed by gold to use in international settlements, a high-ranking member of the Russian parliament has admitted. The matter has been discussed during a recent visit to Iran where officials have also signaled interest in such an initiative. Iran and Russia Talk...
Russian Finance Ministry Makes Fresh Bid to Tax Crypto Miners
26.1.2023
The Russian finance ministry has launched a fresh attempt to tax crypto miners – in a bid to surmount obstacles thrown up by the nation’s Central Bank and law enforcement agencies....
Read More: Russian Finance Ministry Makes Fresh Bid to Tax Crypto Miners
Binance Processed $346 Million for Crypto Exchange Bitzlato, Report Claims
26.1.2023
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has reportedly processed nearly $346 million in crypto transactions for Bitzlato, the coin trading platform that was shut down in an international law enforcement operation. U.S. authorities say the world’s largest trading platform for digital assets was among...
Bitzlato Executives Arrested in Europe, Exchange Laundered €1 Billion, Europol Says
24.1.2023
European law enforcement authorities have detained four more members of the executive team of crypto exchange Bitzlato, Europol announced. According to the police agency, nearly half of the funds processed through the platform were associated with various criminal activities. Bitzlato Senior...
Ukraine’s Financial Watchdog Reports Blocking Russian Crypto Exchanges
22.1.2023
The financial monitoring agency of Ukraine has restricted access to a number of online crypto exchangers operating out of Russia. Some of the coin trading platforms are working with sanctioned Russian banks, the regulatory body announced in a report. Ukrainian Financial Authorities Target Russian...
Darknet Market Solaris Hacked by Competitor, Elliptic Reveals
22.1.2023
A leading marketplace on the dark web, Solaris, has been hit by a rival, according to crypto analytics company Elliptic. The Russia-linked platform, which tried to occupy space vacated by the busted Hydra, is believed to have conquered up to a fifth of the illicit market before the hack. Solaris...
Ukraine to Be Best Crypto Jurisdiction With New Tax Rules, Digital Minister Says in Davos
19.1.2023
Ukraine will become the world’s best jurisdiction for crypto assets, the minister overseeing the country’s digital transformation promised. Speaking with media at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mykhailo Fedorov praised the support from the crypto community for his war-struck nation. Crypto...
US Arrests Russian Co-founder of Bitzlato Exchange on Suspicion of Money Laundering Illegal Gambling and Drug Money
19.1.2023
Anatoly Legkodymov, the Russian founder of Hong Kong-registered crypto exchange Bitzlato, has been arrested by US authorities for allegedly processing $700 million in illicit funds.
In a January 18 filing, the U.S. Department of Justice said Legkodymov was arrested in Miami on Tuesday on charges...
Bitzlato Exchange Busted as US Deals ‘Blow to Crypto Crime,’ Arrests Owner
19.1.2023
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato, better known to the Russian-speaking segment of the market, has been taken down as part of an “international cryptocurrency enforcement action,” the U.S. Justice Department announced. The Russian owner of the platform has been arrested for his role...
Iran and Russia Consider Issuing Gold-Backed Stablecoin, Officials Unveil
18.1.2023
Tehran and Moscow are discussing the possible launch of a stablecoin for international settlements, the Russian press revealed. In order to mint the gold-backed currency, however, authorities would need to first regulate crypto assets, a lawmaker noted. Russian, Iranian Representatives Talk Using...
Crypto Lender Nexo Under Investigation for Alleged Money Laundering, Russian Sanction Violations in Bulgaria
12.1.2023
According to several reports, Bulgarian law enforcement officials are investigating crypto lender Nexo for alleged money laundering and sanctions violations. Siika Mileva, a spokesperson for Bulgaria’s attorney general, said the probe into Nexo is a large-scale operation involving...
Bank of Russia Outlines Payment Models With Digital Ruble, Other CBDCs
11.1.2023
The Central Bank of Russia has detailed two methods for implementing the digital ruble and other state-backed coins in international settlements. The monetary authority also plans to start testing consumer-to-business (C2B) operations in the first quarter of the year. Russia’s Central Bank...
Russian Finance Ministry Says ‘Why Not?’ to Crypto in International Payments
3.1.2023
The Russian Finance Minister has confirmed that his department wants to green-light the use of crypto as a payment tool in international trade. And he says that countries that “want to do business” with Moscow should be allowed to pay in crypto if it is “convenient” for them.
The comments, which...
Amid High Energy Demand From Miners, Russia Mulls Building New Power Plants in Siberia
1.1.2023
Growing electricity consumption in the crypto mining sector may require the construction of new power generation facilities in Siberia, the energy minister of Russia has acknowledged. Demand continues to increase in residential areas as well, after regional authorities abandoned a proposal...
Bill on Digital Ruble Submitted to Russian Parliament
1.1.2023
A draft law devoted to the digital ruble has been filed with the State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament. The legislation introduces rules determining how the new form of national fiat will be issued and amends a series of legal acts to facilitate its implementation. Bank of Russia to...
Dollar Loses to Digital Currencies in 2023, Former Russian President Medvedev Says
30.12.2022
Digital fiat currencies will spread next year while the U.S. dollar will be losing its status of global reserve currency, according to Russia’s former head of state. In a string of tweets, Dmitry Medvedev gave his two cents on what the future holds for the world, a “humble contribution,” as he...
Gold-Based Digital Assets Issued in Russia
29.12.2022
A blockchain platform built by Russia’s largest banking institution, Sber, has been used to issue digital assets based on gold. The value of the tokenized precious metal will depend on the prices of physical gold, the bank said, emphasizing that the operation is a first. Russia’s Sber Bank Mints...