Russia
Industry experts reveal a possible method for Bank of Russia to block crypto
Amid the ongoing uncertainty about the future of cryptocurrencies in Russia, one local industry executive has disclosed a potential method for the Bank of Russia to block crypto transactions. Andrey Mikhaylishin, CEO of the local crypto payment startup Joys, said that the Russian central bank is now considering several potential options to make its crypto ban possible, Forbes Russia reported Friday. One of the possible restriction methods includes blocking debit card payments to crypto exchanges or wallets using merchant category codes (MCC), Mikhaylishin said. The report notes that the executive became aware of this blocking method from Bank of Russia employees. MCC codes are four-digit numbers used by credit card processors such as Visa or Mastercard to describe a merchant’s primary...
Law Decoded: Making sense of mixed signals, Dec. 13–20
The crypto regulation regime in any jurisdiction is an equilibrium among multiple institutional, group and personal interests of actors who have a sway over financial and monetary policies. These interests never perfectly align, frequently resulting in contradictory signals coming out of various power centers. Speaking about systemic risks facing the world’s largest economy last week, the United States Federal Reserve chair said digital assets were not a financial stability concern. Two days later, the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council issued a report that concluded that stablecoins and decentralized finance could pose sizeable financial stability risks. The source of this discrepancy could lie in the fact that the Fed’s mandate is to maintain a robust economy, while the FSOC, whi...
Law Decoded: Making sense of mixed signals, Dec. 13–20
The crypto regulation regime in any jurisdiction is an equilibrium among multiple institutional, group and personal interests of actors who have a sway over financial and monetary policies. These interests never perfectly align, frequently resulting in contradictory signals coming out of various power centers. Speaking about systemic risks facing the world’s largest economy last week, the United States Federal Reserve chair said digital assets were not a financial stability concern. Two days later, the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council issued a report that concluded that stablecoins and decentralized finance could pose sizeable financial stability risks. The source of this discrepancy could lie in the fact that the Fed’s mandate is to maintain a robust economy, while the FSOC, whi...
Here’s why Ethereum traders could care less about ETH’s current weakness
Since hitting an all-time high at $4,870 on Nov. 10, Ether (ETH) price has been posting lower lows over the past 50 days. If this downtrend continues, the lower trendline support suggests that the altcoin will bottom at $3,600. Still, derivatives data is signaling that pro traders are not concerned about the seemingly bearish market structure. Ether/USD price on FTX. Source: TradingView Notice how the price peaks are getting lower on the 12-hour time frame as mounting regulatory concerns drive investors away from the sector. In a press conference on Dec. 17, Russia’s Central Bank governor, Elvira Nabiullina, stated that banning crypto in the country is “quite doable.” Nabiullina cited crypto’s frequent use for illegal operations and significant risks for retail inve...
Bank of Russia to ban mutual funds from investing in Bitcoin
The Russian central bank continues its strict policies regarding the cryptocurrency industry, now officially banning mutual funds from investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC). On Dec. 13, the Bank of Russia published an official statement on regulating investment opportunities by mutual investment funds. Despite expanding the number of assets available for investment by mutual funds, the document prohibits fund managers from buying cryptocurrencies as well as “financial instruments whose value depends on prices of digital assets.” The statement emphasizes that mutual funds are not allowed to provide crypto exposure both to either qualified or unqualified investors. The Bank of Russia previously recommended asset managers to exclude cryptocurrencies from exposure in mutual funds in...
Croatia vs Russia preview, team news, betting tips & prediction
Russia will look to pull clear at the top of Group H with a win over Croatia when the two sides meet in the World Cup qualifiers this week. The two sides will meet on the 14th of November at 14:00 pm BST. Russia are currently two points clear at the top of their group and they will be looking to extend the lead with a win over Croatia. The visitors are in exceptional form right now and they are coming into this game on the back of a 6-0 win over Cyprus. They will be full of confidence and momentum heading into this contest. Croatia are just two points behind Russia and a win here could take them to the top of their group. It will be interesting to see if they can step up and get the job done. In terms of quality, Croatia have a better side and the home fans will demand a big pe...
The seven second summits: a tougher challenge
The seven second summits are considered to be a much harder mountaineering challenge than the more popular seven summits Previously, I’ve written about my dream of climbing the seven summits and laid out a realistic if not deeply challenging and expensive program of how to achieve that goal. This week I look at the seven second summits; the second-highest mountains on each continent. The highest summits are a dream of mine, but I draw the line at the second-highest – they’re simply too scary for an amateur enthusiast like me! Introducing the seven second summits Alpinism author Jon Krakauer wrote in Into Thin Air (one of my favourite mountaineering books) that it would be a bigger challenge to climb the second-highest peak of each continent instead of the highest. An ob...
Russia vs Slovakia preview, team news, betting tips & prediction
Russia will look to climb to the top of Group H with a win over Slovakia in the World Cup qualifiers this week. The two teams meet on Friday at 19:45 pm BST. Russia are currently level on points with group leaders Croatia and they have picked up 13 points from six qualifiers. Slovakia are third in the standings with nine points from six outings. Russia vs Slovakia team news Vyacheslav Karavaev, Stanislav Magkeyev and Aleksei Ionov are ruled out due to injury.Artem Dzyuba has been left out of the squad and Aleksei Miranchuk is suspended. Slovakia will be without Stanislav Lobotka and Vladimir Weiss. Russia possible starting line-up: Guilherme; Kuzyaev, Diveev, Kudryashov, Samoshnikov; Barinov, Erokhin, Golovin; Bakaev, Smolov, Zakharyan Slovakia poss...
Russian Film Crew on International Space Station Begins First Movie Shot in Space
There have been countless movies about life in space, but none of them were actually filmed in space — well, until now. Russia just sent its veteran astronaut Anton Shkaplerov, actor Yulia Peresild, and movie producer Klim Shipenko to the International Space Station to make an original feature film. It’s tentatively titled Challenge and it will be the world’s first-ever movie filmed in orbit. After lifting off in the Soyuz MS-19 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan earlier this morning, all three people arrived at the International Space Station safely a little over three hours later, reports The New York Times. The trio confirmed they were feeling okay and the spacecraft systems were functioning normally, despite a brief glitch in the automatic docking system that Shkaplerov, who has been on three s...
Rammstein’s Till Lindemann Questioned by Russian Police Prior to Festival Cancellation
Rammstein singer Till Lindemann was questioned by Russian police prior to the cancellation of a music festival in the city of Tver. Lindemann was booked to play the festival, which reportedly would have violated COVID-19 protocols. Exaggerated reports circulated this weekend claiming that Lindemann had been arrested by police. Rather, police only visited the Rammstein singer’s hotel on Saturday night. According to German newspaper Bild (via DW), the purpose of the meeting was to make sure Lindemann complied with COVID regulations while performing in Tver. Ultimately, the event was canceled outright. However, Lindemann’s manager, Anar Reiband, does face charges after allegedly violating Russia’s migration laws. When initially entering the country, Reiband apparently claimed the purpose...
Kremlin Papers Seemingly Point To Putin Plot To Land Donald Trump In White House
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Bloomberg / Getty The Kremlin, best known as the seat of the governing body of Russia, has famously kept its secrets away from the public with vault-like efficiency. However, leaked papers are suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed a plot to place former President Donald Trump in the White House in 2016. The Guardian reports that the Kremlin documents appear to show that Putin authorized a top-secret spy operation to push Trump ahead in the 2016 presidential election during a closed session of Russian’s national security council. The meeting took place on January 22, 2016, well ahead of the November elections, and was attended by a gathering of Putin’s top intelligence leaders and senior staffers. In the meeting, Trump was referred to a...
Roberto Martinez to stay on as Belgium coach
Roberto Martinez will stay on as Belgium coach despite the country’s European Championship exit and attempt another tilt at a major title at next year’s World Cup, he said in an interview with Belgian newspapers on Friday. Martinez, whose contract runs until after next year’s tournament in Qatar, had not given any clarity on his plans since Belgium were beaten 2-1 by Italy in Munich in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals a week ago in a major disappointment for the team, who have spent the last three years top of the Fifa rankings. “I’m staying as coach. When I feel I no longer have anything to contribute is when I will leave,” he said. “But I don’t have that feeling now. I was a bitterly disappointed to be knocked out but now I’m looking ahead to the World Cup in Qatar. And also the Nations Leag...
