Russia to Officially Treat Bitcoin as Currency

The Russian government and central bank have agreed to treat Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets as official forms of currency, according to reports.

A new announcement from the Kremlin confirms that Russia’s government and central bank are now working on a draft law that will define cryptocurrencies as an “analog of currencies.”

The change, set to be launched on Feb. 18, will see Russia identify crypto as official currency, rather than digital financial assets.

Cryptocurrencies would function in the legal industry only if they have complete identification through the banking system or licensed intermediaries.

Kommersant notes that underground Bitcoin transactions and hidden possession of cryptocurrency in the Russian Federation are not prohibited.

Rather, the transactions must be done through a “digital currency exchange organizer” (a bank) or a peer-to-peer exchange that is licensed to operate in the country.

The report also highlights that cryptocurrency transactions of more than 600,000 rubles (roughly $8,000) would have to be declared; otherwise, it could be considered a criminal act.

Those who illegally accept cryptocurrencies as payment will incur fines.

The news undoubtedly adds serious legitimacy to cryptocurrencies, not just in Russia, but globally.

This announcement comes after months of speculation about how the Russian government will handle digital currencies.

While it is still unclear what this decision will mean for businesses and citizens in Russia, it seems that the country is slowly warming up to the idea of cryptocurrencies.

In January, the Bank of Russia called for a nationwide crypto ban in a report that warned about the speculative nature of the industry.

The bank also stated that financial firms should not facilitate crypto transactions as part of that proposal to ban digital assets.

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However, the proposal generated opposition from the Russian Ministry of Finance.

A few days after the central bank’s call for a ban, Ivan Chebeskov, a ministry official, said that the government should regulate crypto rather than prohibiting it entirely.

He warned that a total ban might result in Russia falling behind in technology.

Reports have also emerged that President Vladimir Putin supports efforts to regulate the country’s crypto mining sector.

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By Nick R. Hamilton

Nick has a broad background in journalism, business, and technology. He covers news on cryptocurrency, traditional assets, and economic markets.

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