Russia Turns to Crypto for Trade as SWIFT Restrictions Bite — Finance Ministry Legalizes Use
Key Takeaways
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Russia’s Finance Ministry and Central Bank agree to legalize cryptocurrency for foreign trade.
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The move follows a September 2025 pilot and could lead to a permanent framework soon.
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The shift reflects Moscow’s strategy to bypass sanctions and diversify payment systems.
After playing hot potato with crypto and maintaining a cautious stance for years, Russia may finally be warming up to digital assets — but only in a limited sense.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov recently announced that the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) had agreed to legalize the use of cryptocurrencies in foreign trade.
Siluanov framed the move as a pragmatic response to ongoing financial…
