The head of VTB called for speeding up the legalization of the cryptocurrency market in Russia

It is necessary to accelerate the legalization of the cryptocurrency market in Russia, including to simplify foreign trade settlements. This was announced on February 18 at the forum "Cybersecurity in Finance" by the head of VTB Andrey Kostin.

According to him, the bank has a large number of clients and large exporters who ask to provide them with a "white method of payments in cryptocurrency."

"It is necessary to whitewash settlements in this currency as soon as possible...> We need to create exchanges, we can't get away from cryptocurrencies anyway, they need to be put into circulation as soon as possible," Interfax quoted Kostin as saying.

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The head of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, said in December 2025 that mining cryptocurrencies is one of the additional factors contributing to the strengthening of the ruble. She explained that much of this activity remains opaque, making it difficult to accurately assess her contribution.

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