Skip to main content

Bank of Russia Has Tools to Restrict Crypto Investments, Governor Hints

Bank of Russia Has Tools to Restrict Crypto Investments, Governor Hints

The Central Bank of Russia has reaffirmed its opposition to cryptocurrency investments citing the volatility of the digital assets as a key motive for its conservative stance. Governor Elvira Nabiullina has recently indicated that the regulator has the means to restrict them.

Nabiullina Insists Bank of Russia Can Limit Investments in Crypto Assets

Russia’s monetary authority does not welcome investments of Russian citizens in cryptocurrencies, the head of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), Elvira Nabiullina, said during an online press conference this week. She highlighted their volatility and potential use in criminal activity as major reasons for the regulator’s position.

The governor also noted Bank of Russia’s stance that the Russian financial infrastructure should not be employed to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions. She stressed that the regulator is capable of implementing restrictions and reiterated the bank’s skepticism towards these assets. Quoted by the business news portal RBC, the chair of the Russian central bank elaborated:

Cryptocurrencies carry great risks for retail investors due to high volatility and use in illegal activities, so we cannot welcome investments in such assets.

Nabiullina’s statements come after media reports revealed that Russian authorities are now holding discussions to choose between two very different approaches to the regulation of cryptocurrencies and related activities. While the Bank of Russia is seeking to prohibit crypto purchases, the State Duma is developing rules for coin mining and exchange. These will legalize cryptocurrencies despite the CBR’s opposition to their free circulation including their use in payments.

Earlier this week, Reuters quoted sources close to the CBR who indicated that the monetary authority is in talks with market players over a possible ban on the acquisition of crypto assets by Russian investors in the future. One of them unveiled that the central bank’s current position is one of “complete rejection” of cryptocurrencies. Industry experts have warned that such a move would push crypto investors underground and prevent the state from collecting taxes.

However, according to the head of the parliamentary Financial Market Committee, Anatoly Aksakov, lawmakers are also considering the legalization of crypto trading which would allow the taxation of related profits and incomes. Aksakov remarked that the State Duma has already adopted on first reading a draft law to tax crypto transactions in the Russian Federation. The legislation, which recognizes digital currencies like bitcoin as property for tax purposes, was submitted to the house last December.

Do you think Bank of Russia will convince other authorities to support a ban on cryptocurrency investments? Let us know in the comments section below.



from Bitcoin News https://ift.tt/3q7Z3b3

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mt Gox Creditors Updated, Trustee Says Rehabilitation Custodian Is ‘Currently Preparing to Make Repayments’

On August 31, 2022, the Mt Gox trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi explained in a recent letter that the rehabilitation custodian is “currently preparing to make repayments” to Mt Gox creditors. Trustee Updates Mt Gox Creditors — Repayment Date and Exchange Still Unknown Last week speculation and rumors concerning the release of 140K bitcoin ( BTC ) from Mt Gox littered social media platforms and headlines. Bitcoin.com News covered the situation six days ago as a number of people and Mt Gox creditors called the rumors “ fake news .” During that same period of time, a bitcoin whale transferred 10,000 BTC to unknown wallets, and a 2018 annotation , heuristics, and clustering methods show the funds likely originated from the June 2011 Mt Gox hacks. Following the mysterious whale transfer, last Wednesday, Mt Gox published an official update from the court trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi that explains the court is “currently preparing to make repayments” to creditors. Mt Gox creditors have been wait...

Fidelity Discusses Bitcoin as Portfolio Insurance — Could Soon Stand in ‘Stark Contrast’ to Path Fiat Currencies Take

Fidelity Digital Assets, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments, says that bitcoin could be considered portfolio insurance. The firm notes that the cryptocurrency “may soon stand in stark contrast to the path that the rest of the world and fiat currencies may take — namely the path of increased supply, additional currency creation, and central bank balance sheet expansion.” Fidelity Says Bitcoin Could Be Portfolio Insurance Fidelity Digital Assets, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments, recently published a research study titled “The Rising Dollar and Bitcoin.” The research outlines “how bitcoin could be considered portfolio insurance” as the rising dollar impacts global currency markets. “The strengthening U.S. dollar is wreaking havoc among other countries and may put pressure on the Federal Reserve to soon reverse its tightening monetary actions, something that has precedent based on 1985’s Plaza Accord,” Fidelity explained. In addition, “more monetary debasement may be needed to ...

Economists Discuss Russia, China Potentially Developing Gold-Backed Currency That Could Undermine US Dollar

Economists have weighed in on reports that China and Russia may be developing a new gold-backed currency that could undermine the U.S. dollar’s status as the world’s primary reserve currency. Russia and China May Be Developing Gold-Backed Currency Several experts have shared their views on Russia and China potentially creating a new gold-baked currency, Fox Business reported Saturday, emphasizing that China has been buying up huge quantities of gold while Russia was forced off the U.S. dollar due to sanctions imposed on the country following its invasion of Ukraine. The news outlet noted that some experts have cautioned that these moves, along with the closer relationship that has developed between Moscow and Beijing, point to the likelihood of China attempting to launch a gold-backed currency. However, neither Russia nor China has officially confirmed plans for such a currency. Craig Singleton, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former U.S. diplomat,...