The central Bank of Russia today proposed banning the use and mining of cryptoaassets on the country’s territory. The proposed ban encompasses crypto exchanges too.
The bank is citing threats to financial stability, economic security, and monetary policy sovereignty to justify this move.
The bank’s report argues that the crypto growth is the product of speculative demand, that these assets resemble financial pyramid schemes, and that market bubbles may form which would endanger both the users and the Russian financial system.
“Potential financial stability risks associated with cryptocurrencies are much higher for emerging markets, including in Russia,” the report said, adding that this is due to “the traditionally higher propensity for saving in foreign currency and an insufficient level of financial literacy.”
Therefore, the proposal encompasses financial institutions and prevents them from dealing with crypto. Because these measures would aim to block transactions revolving around purchasing or selling crypto for fiat, the ban would include crypto exchanges in the country as well.
Furthermore, the report claims that mining is jeopardizing the country’s energy supply, as well as its green energy plans, among other things.
Russia is considered to be the third-largest crypto miner in the world, preceded by the US and Kazakhstan, especially after the exodus of miners from China following its own ban.
Bloomberg cited “people familiar with the issue,” saying that, unlike in China, the Russian ban would not apply to assets held abroad by Russians, while those with offshore bank accounts will be able to trade crypto.
The central bank is a well-known crypto skeptic, while multiple Russian officials in the government and parliament have different opinions about crypto. For example, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that crypto could play a part in ousting the US dollar in trade deals. Also, last October, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprisingly positive-sounding statement about crypto – claiming that it has a “right to exist” – and added that it could one day find a niche in economies “as a means of accumulation.”
Source: Cryptonews
