A photo-realistic image of a secure fintech operations room in a Russian government building, showing blockchain dashboards and a suited executive observing tokenized asset controls, representing Russia crypto platforms under state supervision.

Public Tools, State Hands: Russia’s Quasi-Governmental Crypto Platforms

Russia’s licensed crypto platforms may look private, but they function as tools of state control. This article examines how Sberbank, Atomyze, and Lighthouse enable blockchain experimentation without decentralization.
A photo-realistic image of a large industrial Bitcoin mining facility in Russia in a snowy Siberian landscape. Rows of mining rigs glow faintly behind a steel-mesh security fence, with plumes of vapor rising from the cooling units. In the distance, power lines stretch toward a hydroelectric plant framed by pine-covered hills and twilight skies. The atmosphere conveys regulated industrial scale and cold efficiency.

Mining the Motherland: How Russia Legalized and Curtailed Bitcoin Mining

Russia legalized Bitcoin mining in 2024 to monetize energy and bypass sanctions. But tight controls on access, exports, and enforcement remain.
Photo-realistic illustration of a secure financial office in Moscow with a frosted-glass door marked by a digital asset icon and a biometric scanner, symbolizing restricted access to crypto trading in Russia.

Crypto Trading in Russia: What’s Legal, What’s Not

Crypto trading in Russia is legal, but only for institutions and certified investors operating within a rigid regulatory framework. Retail access remains blocked, as the state maintains strict control over digital finance.
Photo-realistic illustration of a Bitcoin coin, bond certificate, and fountain pen on a marble desk at sunset, with Sberbank’s glass tower reflecting financial charts and the Kremlin in the background—symbolizing institutional crypto adoption in Russia.

Sberbank’s Strategic Play: Bonds, Bitcoin, and Market Liquidity

Sberbank has emerged as Russia’s crypto trailblazer, launching Bitcoin-linked bonds and positioning itself as a key market maker. Its strategy blends state-backed regulation with financial innovation, reshaping the country’s digital asset landscape.
Photo-realistic illustration of a serious Russian central bank official seated in a modern boardroom, with Bitcoin and Ruble symbols on a digital screen and the Kremlin faintly visible through the window, illustrating the Central Bank of Russia's cautious crypto stance.

The Central Bank vs. the Market: Who’s Steering Russia’s Crypto Direction?

The Central Bank of Russia has shifted from outright opposition to cautious acceptance of cryptocurrency. As state institutions move forward, the CBR remains a reluctant gatekeeper, clinging to control through regulation and its digital ruble project.

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