Russia

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned a Russian network for buying stolen government cyber tools with crypto and reselling them, the first action under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act.

Russia wants to introduce its first regulatory framework for crypto like Bitcoin, with lawmakers aiming to finalize the draft for a parliamentary vote by the end of June.

Russia is preparing a bill to allow everyday investors limited access to cryptocurrency, normalizing its use while capping retail participation at roughly $3,800.

Russia is planning criminal penalties, including forced labor, to curb widespread unregistered bitcoin mining after legalization.

Sberbank has issued Russia’s first crypto-backed loan in a pilot deal with bitcoin miner Intelion Data.

Russia’s central bank has proposed new rules that would allow retail investors limited access to cryptocurrencies while granting professional investors broader rights.

Russia’s second-largest lender, VTB, is moving to become the country’s first major bank to offer direct bitcoin and crypto trading.

The Bank of Russia will reportedly permit domestic banks to engage in limited crypto activities under strict oversight.

Sberbank would act as a custodian, guaranteeing the security of assets and providing safeguards against hacking and unauthorized access.

Russia's largest exchange, The Moscow Exchange has launched Bitcoin futures trading, targeting qualified investors.