ChainCatcher news reports that a survey conducted by the Russian state news agency TASS shows that Russian investors expect Bitcoin to potentially rise to $160,000 in this cycle, but it is unlikely to double to $200,000 in the short term.As for the reasons behind Bitcoin's recent rise, analysts point to macroeconomic changes, such as the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts after a prolonged tightening phase, as well as increasing global liquidity and inflation concerns, all of which may drive investors toward scarce assets like Bitcoin. Institutional adoption is also a significant factor, including large-scale purchases by companies like MicroStrategy and BlackRock.Despite the market's enthusiasm, analysts remain cautious about Bitcoin's long-term prospects. Some respondents believe there are two possible scenarios for Bitcoin's future: one is a "conservative target" of $130,000, and the other is a more bullish ceiling of reaching $160,000 by mid-summer 2025. However, they unanimously agree that it is unlikely to reach $200,000 in the current cycle.

ChainCatcher news, according to reports from Reuters and Polish media Rzeczpospolita on December 6, Polish authorities have arrested the former CEO of the Russian cryptocurrency exchange WEX in downtown Warsaw. The man's name is Dmitry V. He is suspected of engaging in fraud and money laundering activities during his management of WEX, which collapsed in 2018.A spokesperson for the Polish police told Reuters, "The man is currently in custody, awaiting the completion of the extradition process. If extradited to the United States, Dmitry V could face charges carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison."

ChainCatcher news, according to reports from Reuters and Polish media Rzeczpospolita on December 6, Polish authorities arrested the former CEO of the Russian cryptocurrency exchange WEX in downtown Warsaw. The man's name is Dmitry V. He is suspected of engaging in fraud and money laundering activities during his management of WEX, which collapsed in 2018.A spokesperson for the Polish police told Reuters, "The man is currently in custody, awaiting the completion of the extradition process. If extradited to the United States, Dmitry V could face charges carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison."

ChainCatcher news, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will integrate its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)------the digital ruble into the federal budget system starting next year, with the goal of nationwide promotion by July 1, 2025.Putin emphasized the ongoing efforts to improve corporate efficiency, highlighting infrastructure development aimed at reducing costs and streamlining operations. This initiative aligns with Russia's efforts to strengthen the ruble's position in international transactions. This move is part of the country's strategy to modernize its financial system and adapt to digital advancements, ensuring a seamless and cost-effective budget process.

ChainCatcher news, a Russian court has sentenced the founder of the online black market and cryptocurrency mixing service Hydra, Stanislav Moiseev, to life imprisonment. The service processed over $5 billion worth of cryptocurrency during its operation.According to a statement from the Moscow Prosecutor's Office on December 2, the Moscow Regional Court found Moiseev and his 15 accomplices guilty of organized crime and illegal production and sale of psychoactive substances and drugs. The sentences for Moiseev's 15 accomplices ranged from 8 to 23 years. Moiseev was also fined $38,100 (4 million rubles), while his 15 accomplices were ordered to pay a total of $152,400 (16 million rubles). As part of the sentencing order, properties and vehicles related to the convicted individuals were also seized.According to Russian state media TASS, they will serve their sentences in a "strict regime" penal colony.

ChainCatcher news, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated in an interview with Wu Blockchain that after the Ethereum main chain was launched in 2015, the foundation was nearly out of funds. Wanxiang purchased 410,000 Ether at a price of $1.20 each, investing a total of $500,000 to support the foundation's development, which may have "saved the foundation's life." Vitalik believes that the idea of large blocks is more correct, but the lack of execution capability is the main reason for its failure. He pointed out that the Bitcoin community is currently too focused on price, and the prospects for technological development are not optimistic.Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Vitalik stated that this conflict has completely changed him. After publicly supporting Ukraine, he realized that he might never be able to return to Russia and could even face a 10-15 year prison sentence.As for Ethereum's positioning, Vitalik prefers the concept of a "world computer," believing that it is not just a chain, but an ecosystem that can support various applications.

ChainCatcher news, the Russian Ministry of Industry has called for a postponement of the launch of digital ruble payments, emphasizing insufficient infrastructure readiness. The ministry expressed concerns about the challenges businesses may face in meeting the 2025 deadline, which requires large retailers to accept central bank digital currency (CBDC) payments. The ministry believes that a hasty transition due to inadequate preparation could harm business operations.The draft law requires large retailers to adopt digital ruble payments by July 2025, while the deadline for small businesses will be later, depending on their annual revenue.The Ministry suggested postponing this by two years to allow businesses enough time to complete operational guidelines, update software, and train employees.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, reports from a BBC investigative journalist focused on Kremlin affairs that the missing "Crypto Queen" Ruja Ignatova may be hiding in Russia to evade criminal charges. Yoran Tsalov, who also works for Bellingcat, revealed to the media that Ignatova "has connections with multiple individuals and interest groups within the Kremlin."Tsalov claims that these connections were confirmed during an interview with Ignatova's former security advisor Frank Schneider, which was part of the BBC's "The Missing Crypto Queen" investigation and podcast series. Schneider, a former spy in Switzerland, later founded a private investigation company and was employed by OneCoin. He was placed under house arrest in France due to his association with the operation and subsequently went on the run in 2023. Additionally, Tsalov claims that the ongoing BBC investigation confirms that some companies laundering money through OneCoin are linked to former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who is currently living in exile in Russia.OneCoin reportedly launched in 2014, with Ignatova defrauding investors worldwide through a $4 billion Ponzi scheme until the scheme collapsed in 2017, at which point she disappeared. She was last seen in 2017, boarding a flight from Bulgaria to Athens, Greece, and has been placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, the Russian Federal Tax Service has confirmed that Russian companies are applying for cryptocurrency mining licenses, with 150 applications submitted so far. The head of the Federal Tax Service, Daniil Egorov, stated that these applications were all submitted after November 1. Registrants must provide the Federal Tax Service with the cryptocurrency assets they mine, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, and other data.Private miners with a monthly electricity consumption of no more than 6,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) are exempt from registration.

ChainCatcher news, on Tuesday the market's attention was focused on the Russia-Ukraine situation. On the 1000th day of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia's new policy has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, causing global financial markets to be on edge, although the overall reaction has been relatively limited.According to 4E monitoring, U.S. stocks experienced a rollercoaster ride, initially declining due to heightened tensions in the Russia-Ukraine situation as investors panicked and turned to safe-haven assets. U.S. stocks collectively fell, but later, as the U.S. responded that there was no reason to adjust its nuclear posture or strategy, the market shook off concerns about nuclear war escalation. Ultimately, only the Dow Jones fell, while the S&P 500 rose slightly, and the Nasdaq gained 1%, with most large tech stocks rising, led by Nvidia with an increase of nearly 5%.The U.S. is embracing cryptocurrency more closely, as pro-crypto candidates are set to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce, ETF options are being listed, and the Trump Media Group is in deep negotiations to acquire the cryptocurrency platform Bakkt. Bitcoin reached a new high, peaking at $93,905, before slightly retreating to $91,900 at the time of writing. The rise in Bitcoin attracted a significant amount of liquidity, while altcoins generally fell.In the forex commodities sector, the U.S. dollar index rose on Tuesday, initially boosted by geopolitical tensions, with safe-haven currencies like the dollar, Swiss franc, and yen gaining traction. However, this boost weakened after comments from Russian and U.S. officials. Spot gold rose nearly 2%, continuing the upward trend from the previous trading day, marking the third consecutive day of gains. Geopolitical tensions supported oil prices, which saw a slight increase on Tuesday.The current market is focused on Nvidia's earnings report on Wednesday. With Nvidia's market capitalization having grown to approximately $3.5 trillion, the expected volatility in its market cap post-earnings is close to the largest ever and will impact U.S. stocks. Additionally, this week investors are also closely watching the cabinet nominations of the Trump administration. eeee.com is a financial trading platform that supports assets such as cryptocurrencies, stock indices, gold commodities, and forex, recently launching a USDT stablecoin financial product with an annualized return of 5.5%, providing investors with potential safe-haven options. 4E reminds you to be aware of market volatility risks and to allocate assets reasonably.

ChainCatcher news, according to reports from Bloomberg and the Associated Press, the outgoing Biden administration seems to be desperately undermining the global geopolitical landscape and has authorized the lifting of some restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-made weapons to strike military targets within Russia.This decision is reportedly due to North Korea increasing its support for Russian President Putin's army, as well as Russia ramping up missile and drone attacks on its neighbors. This approval marks a significant shift in U.S. policy and comes as Biden is about to leave office, while the incoming elected president Trump has stated he will quickly end the war and has expressed skepticism about continued U.S. support. Ukrainian President Zelensky has long urged allies to allow the use of Western weapons to strike military targets within Russia. He believes this decision will enable Ukraine to better defend against attacks on its critical infrastructure and cities.Insiders say that if approved, this capability may first be used in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine is currently fighting against North Korean and Moscow forces. However, one insider mentioned that even if any permission is granted, it is unlikely to reach the extent that Ukraine has requested.It is reported that Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range strike in the coming days, likely using the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). (Jinshi)

ChainCatcher news, Sberbank CEO Herman Gref stated that the law currently prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment within the Russian Federation, and it is unlikely to be allowed in the near future.Gref clarified at a meeting in Moscow that while new legislation in Russia allows for the use of digital currencies and cryptocurrencies for international payments, their use domestically remains restricted. He also pointed out that if other countries are willing to accept it, the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) of Russia—the digital ruble—can be used for global transactions.As the largest bank and state-owned financial institution in Russia, Sberbank is closely monitoring these developments, although Gref expressed uncertainty about the adoption of the digital ruble abroad.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Russian President Putin stated that Russia will provide BRICS partners with the opportunity to use digital currency in the investment process.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Singapore's second-largest bank, OCBC Bank, will completely stop processing transactions involving Russia to reduce risks related to global sanctions. According to informed sources, this measure will officially take effect on November 1, 2024.In recent weeks, OCBC Bank has notified all customer groups, including private banking clients, stating that due to operational challenges in managing regulatory compliance, the bank will implement this restriction. This decision covers all business units of OCBC Bank, including its private banking division.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, former Russian investigator Marat Tambiyev was sentenced to 16 years in prison for accepting approximately $73 million in Bitcoin bribes during an investigation into organized crime. This amount exceeds five times the highest bribe amount in Russian history.Marat Tambiyev is accused of transferring half of the criminal gang's Bitcoin into his own wallet, leaving the other half for the criminals. Investigators found the Bitcoin wallet keys in a folder on his laptop named "Pension."Marat Tambiyev insisted on his innocence in court, arguing that his actions helped the state recover part of the criminal gang's proceeds. According to Russian state media, he plans to appeal this verdict. Currently, one-third of the Bitcoin stored on Marat Tambiyev's computer has been recovered, while the whereabouts of the remaining portion remain unclear.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. government has sanctioned two Russian cryptocurrency exchanges, PM2BTC and Cryptex, related to underground financial activities, as well as two individuals.The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Treasury Department has designated PM2BTC and its associated individual Sergey Ivanov as "primary money laundering concerns," as the exchange is suspected of handling proceeds from ransomware and other illegal activities. Cryptex is alleged to be linked to Russian cybercriminals, involved in over $720 million in illegal transactions.The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Investigations Division, Dutch police, and the Dutch Financial Intelligence and Investigation Service have seized the network domains and infrastructure associated with PM2BTC, Cryptex, and Ivanov.