Share this article
Belarus Bank to Offer Bitcoin Purchases, With Litecoin and Ether Coming Soon
A Belarusian bank is launching a bitcoin buying service via bank cards for citizens of Belarus and Russia.
Updated May 9, 2023, 3:13 a.m. Published Nov 16, 2020, 12:51 p.m.
Belarusbank, one of the largest credit institutions in Belarus, has partnered with OTC broker White Bird to offer a bitcoin buying service, according to an announcement Monday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
For now, purchases will be available via bank cards issued in Belarus and Russia (the two countries' financial systems are well connected). But going forward, the bank is planning to sell cryptocurrency in other neighboring countries, such as Ukraine, Georgia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations.
According to Belarusbank spokesperson Alexei Kulik, users will be able to withdraw bitcoin to their wallets "with no intermediaries whatsoever." The service will function using White Bird's online infrastructure.
Also read: Belarus Nonprofit Helps Protestors With Bitcoin Grants
Litecoin and ether are expected to be added to the service soon, Kulik told CoinDesk via email.
Belarus officially legalized crypto transactions in 2018. Bitcoin has become a key tool for distributing help to Belarusians who lost their jobs during protests against President Alexander Lukashenko that have been rocking the country since mid-August.
More For You
L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.
What to know:
2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.
This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.
More For You
Coinbase agrees to buy The Clearing Company to deepen prediction markets push
The deal brings a team with specialized experience building event-based trading systems, including veterans from Polymarket and Kalshi.
What to know:
- Coinbase is acquiring The Clearing Company, a startup with experience in prediction markets, to help grow its newly introduced platform.
- The deal brings in a team with specialized experience building event-based trading systems, including veterans from Polymarket and Kalshi.
- The acquisition is part of Coinbase's plan to become an "Everything Exchange", offering a wide range of trading options, including novel cryptocurrencies, perpetual futures contracts, stocks, and prediction markets.
Top Stories
