ChainCatcher news, under international coordination efforts, law enforcement in Phuket, Thailand, detained four Russian citizens on Monday who are suspected of carrying out ransomware attacks. The suspects are believed to be members of the 8Base organization that utilized Phobos ransomware, attacking 17 Swiss companies between April 2023 and October 2024.The suspects are accused of infiltrating the networks of several European companies, encrypting data, and demanding payment in cryptocurrency for decryption fees. Phobos ransomware typically targets small and medium-sized enterprises lacking robust cybersecurity measures. In addition to these incidents, the suspects are also linked to approximately 1,000 victims globally, with around $16 million in Bitcoin stolen.The 8Base organization has been identified as a key player in the ransomware ecosystem. The suspects are currently awaiting extradition to face charges related to their alleged involvement in the ransomware attacks.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, U.S. President Trump has reached a prisoner exchange agreement with Russia, swapping BTC-e exchange's former operator Alexander Vinnik for American teacher Marc Fogel, who was arrested in Russia.Vinnik pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in May 2024 in a federal court in San Francisco. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, BTC-e assisted in laundering over $4 billion in criminal proceeds during its operation and was involved in the laundering of funds stolen from Mt. Gox. Vinnik was arrested in Greece in 2017, sentenced to 5 years in prison by a French court in 2020, and extradited to the U.S. in 2022.

ChainCatcher news, according to Chainalysis, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) jointly announced sanctions against the Russian bulletproof hosting provider Zservers on February 11, 2025. The company was sanctioned for supporting the attack activities of the LockBit ransomware group.The sanctions list includes two Russian citizens, Aleksandr Bolshakov and Alexander Mishin, along with their associated cryptocurrency addresses, as well as Zservers and its three cryptocurrency addresses.On-chain data shows that Zservers has completed over $5.2 million in fund settlements through KYC-free exchanges like Garantex. The company has servers in Russia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, the United States, and Finland, providing infrastructure support for multiple ransomware organizations.

ChainCatcher news, the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor has blocked the widely used cryptocurrency platform BestChange, which is one of the largest over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency trading aggregation platforms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Although Roskomnadzor did not disclose the specific reasons, BestChange has been added to the list of restricted access websites. Representatives of the platform stated that the legal team is actively working on the unblocking issue.This is not the first time BestChange has faced a ban in Russia. Back in 2017, a St. Petersburg court prohibited the platform because Bitcoin was considered a "currency substitute." Although the ban was lifted in 2018, it was reimposed in 2019 and has been adjusted repeatedly since then.This blockage comes nearly six months after Russia implemented new regulations to oversee Bitcoin and digital assets, with the new law prohibiting digital currency advertising and restricting cryptocurrency transfer services.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptoslate, Russian legislator Anton Gorelkin posted on Telegram expressing concerns from Bitcoin miners regarding the government's requirement to include wallet addresses in a national registration system.Miners believe that if wallet address information is leaked, it could be exploited by geopolitical adversaries and lead to sanctions. In response, the Russian tax authorities stated that the relevant information is stored in an independent internal security system, with access strictly limited. Notably, this concern arises at a time when the demand for industrial-grade mining machines in Russia has tripled in 2024, and the government is promoting the establishment of a nationwide cryptocurrency mining equipment registration system.

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by the Russian TASS agency, the cryptocurrency options exchange Deribit announced its exit from the Russian market due to sanctions imposed by the European Union, as stated on its official website. Deribit stated: "Due to the EU sanctions against Russia, Deribit will no longer accept Russian citizens and residents as clients, unless applicable exceptions apply. As Deribit's parent company is based in the Netherlands, these EU sanctions are binding on us."Russian citizens are prohibited from using the services of this cryptocurrency exchange unless they are also citizens of a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or are long-term residents of an EEA member state or Switzerland. According to examples cited by the exchange, Russian citizens residing in Ireland or holding Danish nationality can use Deribit services. Russians residing in the UAE are also unable to use its services. Russian companies do not enjoy any exceptions.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, the governor of Irkutsk Oblast, Igor Kobzev, has called for a year-round ban on cryptocurrency mining in areas with energy shortages.He stated that the winter ban has released about 300 megawatts of power capacity, but the electricity shortage issue remains severe. Although this policy may impact the local economy and tax revenue, Kobzev emphasized that this measure is crucial for the region's sustainable development.Currently, mining activities in the northern part of Irkutsk Oblast are still permitted, and the regional government plans to establish a committee to assess the impact of tax policies on the mining industry. The ban is set to last until 2031, but it may lead to an increase in "gray" mining activities while pushing other regions to compete for the mining market.

ChainCatcher news, the Russian government and the central bank announced the successful trial of the digital ruble in budget settlements. The central bank and the Ministry of Finance had conducted closed-door tests of the digital ruble's budget operations by the end of 2024.According to reports, despite opposition from the country's commercial banking sector, the central bank still hopes to launch the currency in early July this year, stating that testing "is ongoing," but did not disclose any details about the pilot "budget" transactions.The Ministry of Finance stated that there are currently no plans to use the digital ruble to pay government funds to citizens and has repeatedly mentioned the use of the digital ruble to "ensure the targeted use of budget funds."

ChainCatcher news, according to cryptonews, a new survey conducted by financial service provider Vyberu shows that over one-fifth of Russian respondents have traded or held Meme coins. The survey included 3,000 Russians aged between 18 and 60.The survey also found that 15% of respondents stated that they purchased Meme coins due to "hype." Additionally, 4% of respondents indicated that they bought Meme coins for "quick profits." Furthermore, 2% of respondents mentioned that they invested in these coins to "support the project creators."Most of those who reported having purchased Meme coins believe that Meme coins have good "growth potential," with 23% of token buyers stating they were attracted by the "cultural or ironic aspects" of Meme coins.6% of respondents were drawn to Meme coins because of their active communities and "fan groups." Moreover, a quarter of respondents believe that the issuance of Meme coins is an "effective marketing initiative." However, nearly half of the respondents consider Meme coins to be a "temporary phenomenon" and a social media trend.

ChainCatcher news, an employee of a Russian diamond mining company has been sentenced to prison for "providing economic assistance to a Ukrainian terrorist organization" by sending cryptocurrency.The man is a male resident of the Yakut Mirninsky District (Sakha Republic in the Russian Far East). He was arrested by the Sakha Republic branch of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). The FSB stated that the man "repeatedly used cryptocurrency to transfer funds to Ukrainian armed groups," which used these funds "to conduct reconnaissance and subversive activities against the security of the Russian Federation."

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, due to the reduction of "humanitarian electricity" supply from Moscow to Abkhazia, it is expected that the emergency electricity provided by Russia will be exhausted by February 18. Abkhazia's only major hydroelectric power station has been shut down due to low reservoir water levels, and the government is unable to prevent crypto miners from continuing to operate large-scale mining farms through legal loopholes. Residents believe that law enforcement agencies are aware of the locations and owners of the mining farms but have not taken effective measures. This has led to anger among the Russian public and media regarding Abkhazia's energy consumption, as Russian taxpayers have to foot the bill, while domestic electricity prices in Russia are also rising.Timur Dzhindzholiya, head of the electricity supplier Chernomorenergo, stated that according to "Abkhazia's current consumption rate," the "electricity supply from Russia" can only "last until February 18." It is impossible to "extend" the emergency electricity supply for a "long time." Therefore, the provider has decided to extend the existing rolling blackout plan to six hours a day.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the demand for cryptocurrency mining machines and related services in Russia is expected to triple year-on-year. Sergey Bezdelov, chairman of the Industrial Mining Association, stated that this is due to new regulations allowing individuals and businesses to mine legally within a certain energy consumption range.The new regulations grant legal status to mining and require miners consuming over 6000 kilowatt-hours to register, but they still operate in a relatively relaxed regulatory environment. The Russian Ministry of Finance expects that cryptocurrency miner taxes could reach up to $500 million annually.Meanwhile, lawmakers have indicated that they may further simplify regulations, especially for businesses using cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions, in order to promote market development.

ChainCatcher news, the Central Bank of Russia has introduced regulations to manage foreign exchange operations involving digital rights. According to Russian law, digital rights include electronic records such as cryptocurrencies, tokenized securities, and digital tokens. These rights represent claims or obligations related to assets or services. The new decree will take effect on January 11 and outlines the obligations of residents engaged in such transactions, aiming to clarify and strengthen the oversight of digital assets used for trade and payment purposes.A key requirement outlined in the regulation is that foreign trade contracts involving digital rights settlements must be registered with authorized banks. The document states: "Foreign trade contracts, including those settled using digital rights, must be registered with authorized banks. The registration thresholds for these contracts remain unchanged: import contracts exceeding 3 million rubles and export contracts exceeding 10 million rubles."In addition to registration, the Central Bank of Russia also explained: "The regulation specifies the documents and information that residents must provide to banks, including transaction data related to the transfer or receipt of digital rights as a means of payment under foreign trade contracts, as well as data related to other foreign exchange operations involving digital rights."By defining these requirements, the Central Bank of Russia aims to integrate digital rights into the broader financial system while reducing the risks associated with their use.

ChainCatcher news, ten regions in Russia will completely ban cryptocurrency mining starting January 1, with three additional regions implementing partial bans. The government decree was passed on December 23, stipulating a complete ban on mining from January 2025 to March 2031. In the other three regions, mining will be partially restricted during each heating season (from November 15 to March 15 of the following year, excluding the first year starting from January 1, 2025) until 2031.Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated at the end of December that the number of regions banning cryptocurrency mining could increase if requests are received from governors. Authorities in the Republic of Khakassia have already asked the Ministry of Energy to restrict mining activities in the region.

ChainCatcher news, a bill has been submitted to the State Duma of Russia, aimed at mandating banks and merchants to use the digital ruble while implementing a universal QR code payment system. The bill is spearheaded by a group of senators and deputies, including Anatoly Aksakov, the chairman of the Duma's Financial Market Committee, and has been officially submitted to the lower house's electronic database.The proposal outlines a phased rollout plan for the digital ruble, starting on July 1, 2025, initially launching in systemically important banks (banks critical to the stability of the national economy) and expanding to all banks by 2027. Merchants will also be required to accept the digital ruble to encourage public usage. By July 2025, businesses with annual revenues exceeding 30 million rubles must enable digital ruble payments, with the threshold dropping to 20 million rubles by July 2026. Businesses in areas without mobile or internet access are exempt from this requirement.The bill, in conjunction with the universal QR code system, simplifies the payment process to facilitate seamless use of the digital ruble. Amendments to consumer protection laws require merchants to comply with regulations to ensure broader adoption. Additionally, credit institutions and foreign bank branches participating in the platform are obligated to support these transactions.

ChainCatcher news, the Central Bank of Russia is developing a new monitoring platform to combat illegal cryptocurrency over-the-counter trading services and enhance financial security.Sources revealed that this initiative is being implemented in cooperation with Rosfinmonitoring. The platform will centralize information on suspicious activities, enabling banks to take proactive measures to refuse account openings for high-risk individuals.Bogdan Shablya, head of the Central Bank's Financial Monitoring and Currency Control Service, confirmed that the platform's goal is to make illegal financial operations economically unviable by blocking them at entry points. Unlike major monitoring companies that heavily rely on passive measures of KYC systems, this platform will actively target individual accounts and focus on real-time detection of abnormal trading patterns.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, the Russian Finance Minister stated that Russia is using Bitcoin in foreign trade.Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov stated that after legislative adjustments allowed the use of Bitcoin and other digital currencies to respond to Western sanctions, Russian companies have begun using these currencies in international payments. This year, Russia has allowed the use of cryptocurrencies in foreign trade and has taken steps to legalize cryptocurrency mining, including Bitcoin. Russia is one of the leading countries in global Bitcoin mining.Siluanov said, "Such transactions are already taking place. We believe that such transactions should be further expanded and developed. I believe this will be the case next year. The use of digital currencies for international payments represents a future trend."

ChainCatcher news, according to Ledger Insights, the Central Bank of Russia recently shared its business model for the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). By the end of 2025, all digital ruble transactions will be free, with the first banks and merchants expected to go live on July 1. The central bank plans to earn fees by operating the system.Meanwhile, at a hearing held last week in the State Duma of Russia, the Association of Russian Banks (ABR) expressed dissatisfaction among banks. They are concerned about the potential outflow of bank deposits and the high deployment costs.It is reported that the Central Bank of Russia does not intend to limit the holdings of the CBDC. According to Info24, ABR Chairman Anatoly Kozlachkov stated that the setup cost for each bank is about 100 million rubles (1 million USD), while some banks have a capital of only 3 million USD.