Sanctions threaten to cripple Russia’s multibillion-dollar crypto industry – By Ryan Browne (CNBC) / April 22, 2022
- U.S. officials are concerned Russia will “monetize its natural resources” for power-intensive crypto mining to evade sanctions.
- The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted Russian bitcoin miner BitRiver in its latest round of sanctions.
- Russia is the world’s third-biggest bitcoin mining hub, according to Cambridge University data.
Sanctions imposed on Russia over the country’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine could hamper the growth of its multibillion-dollar crypto sector, according to experts.
This week, U.S. officials targeted Russian bitcoin mining firm BitRiver in its latest round of sanctions aimed at hurting Russia’s economy. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control says it is concerned Russia may monetize its vast oil reserves and other natural resources for power-intensive crypto mining as a way to raise funds and get around western sanctions.
“This is a powerful signal from OFAC that it will use every tool in its arsenal to prevent Russia from evading sanctions through crypto,” David Carlisle, vice president of policy and regulatory affairs at crypto compliance firm Elliptic, said in an emailed note.
