Bank of Russia Rejects Idea of Using Cryptocurrency to Circumvent Sanctions

The Central Bank of Russia has turned down a proposal to allow the use of digital currencies for the purpose of sanctions evasion. The monetary authority believes this is hardly an option as Western regulators are already taking steps to prevent such transactions. Employing Bitcoin to Evade Sanctions Not Possible, Central Bank of Russia Says … Read more

Luno Launches Venture Fund to Invest in Over 200 Crypto and Fintech Startups per Year

Luno cryptocurrency exchange recently announced the launch of an investment arm, Luno Expeditions, whose objective is to invest in fintech, crypto, and Web3 startups globally. The investment arm will target digital assets and later-stage companies starting from Series A upwards. Funding Over 200 Startups per Year One of Africa’s pioneering cryptocurrency exchanges, Luno, recently announced … Read more

Bank of Russia Allows Sberbank to Issue Digital Financial Assets

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has been authorized by the country’s monetary policy regulator to issue digital financial assets. The move comes amid tightening Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, including limiting Moscow’s access to the global financial market. Sberbank Added to Central Bank’s Register of Crypto Asset Issuers The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) … Read more

Crypto Assets Can Help Russia Return to Global Financial Market, Lawmaker Says

Digital financial assets like cryptocurrencies can help Russia to reach the global financial market despite western sanctions, a lawmaker working on crypto regulations has stated. The official believes the country is capable of setting up domestic crypto exchanges and should support mining. Russia Can Establish Own Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Deputy Insists The crypto space is an … Read more

Upcoming AML Regulations in Estonia to Affect Cryptocurrency Industry

Estonia is preparing to enforce a set of new anti-money laundering rules that will stiffen requirements for crypto companies operating under Estonian license. The changes come amid concerns that Russia may use crypto to evade western sanctions and an ongoing audit of the Baltic nation’s AML policies. Government of Estonia Creates Stricter Regulatory Environment for … Read more

Coinbase Blacklists Over 25,000 Crypto Addresses Tied to Russian Individuals and Entities

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has addressed the company’s procedures toward complying with sanctions in a blog post published on Sunday. The crypto firm says that respecting sanctions plays a “vital role in promoting national security” and the acts can help deter “unlawful aggression.” Coinbase Intends to Comply With International Sanctions, Chief Legal Officer Says ‘Digital … Read more

Russia Proceeds With Efforts to Legalize Crypto Amid Sanctions Over Ukraine

Authorities in Russia are continuing their work to establish a comprehensive legal framework for crypto transactions. The efforts, which started before the military invasion of Ukraine, go on amid warnings that Moscow may use cryptocurrencies to evade expanding financial sanctions. Expert Council Meets in Russia to Discuss Law ‘On Digital Currency’ Attempts to legalize and … Read more

Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance Launches Digital Assets Research Project With 16 Banks

On Tuesday, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at Cambridge Judge Business School announced a new research initiative focused on the “growing digital asset ecosystem.” According to CCAF, the newly launched collaborative effort involves 16 financial institutions such as the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Accenture, EY, Goldman Sachs, and more. CCAF Launches 2-Year Research … Read more

UAE Property Developer DAMAC to Launch Metaverse Project in March Says Managing Director

One of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s leading real estate property developers, DAMAC Properties, is planning to launch a project in the metaverse soon, the company’s managing director (MD) has said. DAMAC Looking Into NFTs and Metaverse According to Ali Sajwani, the managing director of the real estate property developer DAMAC Properties, his company is … Read more

Russia May ‘Nationalize’ Foreign Assets in Response to Western Sanctions, Medvedev Says

Authorities in Russia may begin to seize funds of foreign nationals and companies that are in the country, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has indicated. His warning comes as the West continues to expend penalties imposed on Moscow over its military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Medvedev Warns Persons and Entities From ‘Hostile’ Nations May Lose … Read more