Russia
Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, prepares to issue crypto-backed loans
Russia’s biggest bank said it plans to offer loans secured by cryptocurrency following a pilot deal with a mining firm, with legislation expected by mid-2026.
Sovcombank says it's the first Russian bank to offer bitcoin-backed loans to public
Larger rival Sberbank beat Sovcombank to the punch, but it's still running as a pilot program.
Moscow Exchange to add SOL, XRP, and TRX futures contracts to crypto derivatives lineup
The new contracts will be based on indices for each token, settled in rubles, and accessible only to qualified investors.
Russia's biggest bitcoin mining firm's founder arrested for tax evasion while his company faces bankruptcy
An En+ subsidiary has filed an insolvency claim against the crypto mining firm, adding to pressure from energy debts, regulatory curbs and internal turmoil.
Russia plans to cap retail crypto buys at $4,000 as it brings digital assets into the legal fold
Russian lawmakers plan crypto regulations by midyear, permitting trading for qualified and retail investors while banning anonymous coins and domestic payments.
Crypto exchange WhiteBIT flagged by Russia as 'undesirable' over support for Ukraine military
WhiteBIT has actively supported Ukraine's war effort, donating $11 million to military initiatives and processing over $160 million in donations.
Russia’s ruble-pegged stablecoin helped evade sanctions to the tune of $100 billion
Elliptic says the ruble-pegged A7A5 processed nearly 250,000 onchain transactions, demonstrating how stablecoins facilitate cross-border flows under sanctions pressure.
A ruble stablecoin outpaced market leaders last year despite international sanctions
A7A5, a ruble-linked stablecoin few outside Russia had heard of a year ago grew the most of any stablecoin, outpacing both USDT and USDC over the past 12 months.
Russia’s central bank unveils new crypto rules to be adopted in 2026
Bank of Russia outlined a new framework intended to let retail and qualified investors buy crypto under defined tests and caps by 2027.
Most Influential: Oleg Ogienko
Sanctions, capital controls and Russia’s improvised financial plumbing helped create A7A5, a ruble stablecoin built on a currency rarely used in global commerce, allowing it to appear legally at major events even as its presence leaves compliance teams panicked.
