Russia Advances Cryptocurrency Mining Bill

Russia’s State Duma has advanced a bill to regulate cryptocurrency mining, aiming to curb illegal activities and promote investment and employment. Proposed by the chairman of the Duma Committee on Financial Markets and supported by key deputies, the bill mandates strict guidelines for miners, including registration and government oversight. If passed, the law will take … Read more

BRICS Considers Iran’s Proposal to Link Payment Systems of All Member Countries, Says Russian Official

The BRICS economic bloc is considering Iran’s proposal to link all member nations’ payment systems, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. The proposal aims to enhance BRICS countries’ financial sovereignty by establishing a resilient and sanctions-resistant payment infrastructure. Discussions include integrating financial markets, payments in national currencies, and new mechanisms for mutual financial … Read more

Cross-Border Digital Ruble Payments May Become a Reality in 2026

Generalized international settlements using the Russian digital ruble will not be available until 2026, according to statements from Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market. Aksakov stated that in 2025, authorities plan to expand the current pilot stage to implement these transactions within Russia. Subsequently, they will generalize and test … Read more

2 Foreign Nationals Plead Guilty in Lockbit Ransomware Case

Two foreign nationals pleaded guilty in Newark federal court regarding their participation in the Lockbit ransomware organization, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed on Thursday. Russian citizen Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov and Mikhail Vasiliev, a dual citizen of Canada and Russia, were identified as members of the Lockbit group. Active since January 2020, this group … Read more

Putin Calls to ‘Seize the Moment’ to Kickstart Digital Ruble and Crypto Adoption In Russia

President Vladimir Putin declared it was time for Russia to create the environment needed to increase the adoption of digital assets and the Russian CBDC, the digital ruble, as part of the country’s economic tissue. He also reported that over 30,000 transactions have been made in the pilot test phase of the digital ruble, with … Read more

Potential Ban on Cryptocurrency Mining in Certain Regions Disrupts Regulatory Efforts in Russia

The potential for a ban on cryptocurrency mining in regions classified as ‘energy deficient’ has hindered the ability to reach a consensus on the approval of cryptocurrency mining regulations in Russia. The proposed bill, which is expected to pass in August, would give authorities the power to declare mining operations in these regions illegal, based … Read more

Russia Considers Allowing Digital Currency Trading on the Country’s Largest Exchanges

The Russian Ministry of Finance has proposed permitting digital currency trading for a select group of qualified investors on licensed exchanges like the Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange. Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Financial Market Committee, believes Russia’s largest exchanges are prepared to handle cryptocurrency transactions. He emphasized that once legal conditions … Read more

US Treasury ‘Very Attentive’ to Russia’s Use of Cryptocurrency, Yellen Says

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has addressed concerns about Russia using cryptocurrency to evade sanctions. During her testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Yellen acknowledged the potential threat, noting that while it may not be a significant issue now, it could become more concerning as sanctions intensify. Yellen: We Are Very Attentive to the … Read more

Putin Envisions Official BRICS Parliamentary Organization

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that the BRICS economic bloc will have its own official parliamentary organization in the future. Speaking at the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Putin emphasized the importance of parliaments in promoting multilateralism and global security. He highlighted BRICS’ principles of democracy, sovereignty, and mutual respect, and called for collective efforts to … Read more