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.

ChainCatcher news, according to Walter Bloomberg, the Governor of the Central Bank of Russia, Nabiullina, stated that we do not intend to invest in cryptocurrencies.

ChainCatcher news, driven by the surge in Bitcoin, the prices of mining machines sold in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen are also rising. The prices of some merchants' Antminer machines have increased by several tens of percent. One merchant stated that the Antminer S21 335T is priced at $5,600 each, equivalent to 40,700 RMB, which is a 30% increase from last year's 28,000 RMB. Bitmain's official website shows that the 473T S21 XP water-cooled miner is priced at 73,900 RMB, but it is already sold out.It is reported that since the beginning of this year, especially in recent months, there have been many customers from Russia, Ethiopia, the United States, and Canada. Some are importing hundreds of new machines, while others are even trading thousands, all delivered and shipped in Hong Kong. (Hong Kong Wen Wei Po)

ChainCatcher news, the Russian Investigative Committee stated that in Moscow, a bomb hidden on an electric scooter killed a senior Russian general responsible for nuclear protection forces.General Igor Kirillov is the commander of Russia's nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, and he was killed outside an apartment building on Ryazan Street, about 7 kilometers southeast of the Kremlin. The Investigative Committee stated, "Kirillov and his assistant were murdered." This incident has been registered as a criminal case.

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.