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Story: Russia Hits $648 Million Daily Crypto Volume as Regulators Circle

By Bruce Buterin

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Russia's finance ministry dropped big news February 16. The country's daily cryptocurrency turnover reached $648 million, with millions of Russians trading digital assets, but…

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Ministry officials can't ignore the numbers anymore. A massive chunk of trading runs wild without compliance checks, and that's got regulators pretty nervous about what comes next.

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The goal sounds straightforward - balance innovation with keeping people safe from scams and crashes. Yet no concrete proposals hit the table.

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Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina doubled down the same day, pushing for a complete ban on crypto payments inside Russia.

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Meanwhile, the EU watches Russia's moves carefully. European officials assess recent market volatility and talk about enhanced security measures for investors.

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Things get complicated fast. Related coverage: Crypto Funds Bleed 3 Million Over.

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Both regions struggle with fitting cryptocurrencies into existing legal frameworks. Russia's decisions will probably affect its relationships with EU countries, especially as…

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Russian crypto exchanges feel the heat now. According to someone at Binance's Russian division, the company talks with local authorities about compliance measures.

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A Moscow think tank called the Center for Financial Technologies released a report February 14 about regulation risks.

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Russian lawmakers plan to review a draft cryptocurrency bill later this year. The bill started in 2025 but went through several revisions since then.

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The Russian Association of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain backs the proposed changes. President Yuri Pripachkin said clear guidelines are essential for industry growth during a…

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Germany's financial watchdog BaFin also monitors Russian developments closely. A BaFin spokesperson mentioned February 16 that the agency reviews potential impacts on European…

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Ethereum briefly surged past $3,000 on February 16, reflecting heightened market interest in regulatory developments.

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For now, millions keep trading daily while transparency stays limited. The future of crypto regulation remains uncertain with key decisions still pending.

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The cryptocurrency industry's growth in Russia mirrors global trends, with trading volumes surging 340% since 2022 according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

The Currency Analytics

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