Tagged: russia

April 24, 2025 @ 4:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry are preparing to introduce a specialized cryptocurrency exchange tailored for qualified investors. This initiative, set to operate under an experimental legal framework, marks a significant step toward (what appears to be) legalizing crypto assets in the country. The exchange… Read More

March 12, 2025 @ 9:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On March 7, 2025, the US Department of Justice (DOJ), in an operation alongside authorities in Germany and Finland, announced the disruption of Garantex, a Russia-based cryptocurrency exchange allegedly known for its deep ties to the global cybercrime economy. This coordinated effort resulted in the… Read More

February 22, 2025 @ 5:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The blockchain and crypto ecosystem last year was marked by significant illicit activity, with sanctioned entities and jurisdictions playing a major role, according to Chainalysis’s latest report, entitled “2025 Crypto Crime Trends: Sanctions.” The blockchain analytics firm reveals that $15.8 billion in crypto flowed to… Read More

January 29, 2025 @ 7:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A London-based financial services startup, Stenn Group, has reportedly entered administration, leaving creditors facing losses of over £100 million. The company, which specialized in invoice finance, had been under investigation by HSBC, its lender, following allegations of links to a Russian money laundering case. As… Read More

January 27, 2025 @ 5:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s largest power grid operator, Rosseti, is venturing into Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto mining by leveraging its underutilized power centers. The state-owned energy provider aims to become a key coordinator for mining infrastructure deployment across the country, as reported by TASS. Rosseti sees crypto mining… Read More

December 1, 2024 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Earlier this week, Russia reportedly approved a cryptocurrency-focused tax law which recognizes Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto-assets as property (somewhat similar to what Chinese courts has determined several years back). The legislation, which was reportedly approved on November 27, 2024, formally acknowledges Bitcoin / other virtual… Read More

October 1, 2024 @ 10:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning individuals and entities affiliated with Evil Corp, a cybercriminal operation based in Russia. OFAC is taking the action in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and… Read More

September 6, 2024 @ 8:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chainalysis has shared key insights focused on Russia’s cryptocurrency pivot as well as legislated sanctions “evasion.” In response to mounting financial pressures of Western sanctions, Russia enacted significant legislation “legalizing cryptocurrency mining and permitting the use of cryptocurrency for international payments.” Chainalysis added that the… Read More

April 13, 2024 @ 1:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Alfa-Bank has achieved a significant technological milestone by becoming the first bank in Russia to launch its mobile banking application, Alfa-Online, on the domestic Aurora operating system, now updated to its fifth version. This initiative marks a notable advancement in the integration of Russian-developed technology… Read More

March 26, 2024 @ 3:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned thirteen entities and two individuals for operating in the financial services and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy “including persons developing or offering services in virtual assets that enable the evasion of… Read More

March 11, 2024 @ 7:58 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Kremlin has announced plans to create an independent payment system within the BRICS group of nations, employing blockchain and digital currencies. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, in a detailed interview with Russian news agency TASS, highlighted the initiative aimed at developing a financial infrastructure that… Read More

December 12, 2023 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto exchange Binance, which recently agreed to pay a massive $4.3 billion+ as part of an unprecedented settlement with US regulators, is now preparing to leave the Russian market. The company will also end support for Ruble-based transactions due to regulatory challenges. Binance confirmed that… Read More

November 21, 2023 @ 10:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

For SMEs, the year 2023 could mark a “turning point.” They have shown resilience “despite persistent inflation and the war in Ukraine, but they are now having to face rising interest rates which is making life tough for them for three reasons,” according to iBanFirst,… Read More

November 16, 2023 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In 21 months of the war (since February 24, 2022), PeerBerry business partners Aventus Group and Gofingo Group have, in total, repaid PeerBerry investors €46.2 million or 92% of the total outstanding war-affected obligations. Today, Gofingo Group repaid PeerBerry investors €200 000 in war-affected loans…. Read More

November 4, 2023 @ 2:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On November 3, 2023, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russian national Ekaterina Zhdanova for using cryptocurrency “to launder money on behalf of Russian elites, ransomware groups, and other bad actors.” Chainalysis has examined the three Bitcoin… Read More

November 4, 2023 @ 7:21 am By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Russian national Ekaterina Zhdanova for utilizing crypto to launder and move money on behalf of “Russian elites.” Strict sanctions have been enacted by the US and other nations following Russia’s unprovoked… Read More

September 27, 2023 @ 8:02 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Binance, which is being sued by US regulators for a wide range of issues along with facing other major compliance and operational challenges, has entered into an agreement to sell the entirety of its Russia business to CommEX. To ensure a smooth process for existing… Read More

September 23, 2023 @ 6:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In 19 months of the war (since February 24, 2022), PeerBerry business partners Aventus Group and Gofingo Group have, in total, “repaid PeerBerry investors €45.52 million or 90.64% of the total outstanding war-affected obligations.” Compared to other war-affected platforms, PeerBerry claims that it is the… Read More

August 28, 2023 @ 8:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

P2P digital currency exchanges have reportedly assisted crypto traders with circumventing globally-enforced sanctions against Russia’s banking institutions. Crypto exchange Binance‘s recent activities might worsen its regulatory challenges in the US. The recent crackdown attempts to place a ban on transactions completed with payment cards that… Read More

July 5, 2023 @ 5:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The owner of CarMoney, a Russian firm focused on offering secured car loans, launched a direct listing on the Moscow Exchange on Monday (July 4, 2023) in a capital raise that valued the business at roughly 6.3 billion roubles (or the equivalent of $70.7 million)…. Read More