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Russian President favors cryptocurrencies, urging all parties to discuss

Published

4 years ago

January 27, 2022

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, favors cryptocurrencies and urges the Russian Central Bank to discuss the matter, not rejecting cryptocurrencies right away.

Russian Authorities’ have strong disagreements on dealing with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and the issue reached Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ears.

The Russian President wants to hear all parties involved; however, it is a divisive proposal that originated within the Russian Central Bank.

Chebeskov, the Director of Russian Financial Politics, contends that outlawing cryptocurrencies in Russia risks trailing behind other “high-tech” countries.

According to the Russian President, the authorities’ attitude is motivated by the fact that the growth of this type of financial system may pose risks to Russians, given the volatility of cryptocurrencies.

He also mentioned that Russia provides a large field for cryptocurrency growth and a location where the country’s various advantages may aid in the development of the overall industry.

Putin backed the banking institution’s stance on continuing the discussions, not discarding cryptocurrencies right away.

The risks of forbidding Cryptocurrencies in Russia.

In recent days, the world has focused on Russia because of a policy that might jeopardize Bitcoin trading, use, and mining in that nation.

It is a contentious proposition that arose within the Russian Central Bank. Due to its volatility and usage in “criminal operations,” the body says that bitcoin “poses serious dangers to the wellbeing of Russian residents and the stability of the financial system.”

The Russian Ministry of Finance was not pleased with the banking institution’s proposal.

According to a local media source, Ivan Chebeskov, head of that ministry’s Financial Policy Department, claimed that the minister of that portfolio favored regulation but did not support a ban on cryptocurrencies. “We need to regulate rather than prohibit. Citizens would be protected by regulation, “said the official.

Chebeskov argues that prohibiting cryptocurrency in Russia risks lagging behind other countries in the “high-tech” sector. One such country is the United States, with whom ties have recently heated up and presently hosts 42 percent of the worldwide Bitcoin hashrate, while Russia has just 13 percent.

Russia holds 13% of Bitcoin processing power, while the United States has 42%. // Source: Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF).

He also emphasized the need to allow technology to evolve, which is why they are working on “legislative measures in terms of regulation.”

Disagreements among authorities on dealing with bitcoin reached Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ears.

Putin calls for consensus though all parties involved.

Putin addressed discussions on whether or not to accommodate bitcoin in Russia during a virtual conference he held with his ministerial cabinet on January 26, 2022.

The bitcoin issue seemed to be of importance to the Russian President since, before starting the schedule, he wanted to make his position on the matter clear:

I am familiar with the ongoing discussion on this issue. These issues are dealt with and regulated by the Central Bank of Russia. The Central Bank does not stand in the way of our technical progress and is making the necessary efforts to introduce the latest technologies in this area of activity.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.

Putin defended the position of the financial body on the point of bitcoin volatility because “it carries certain risks, first of all to citizens,” the President said.

According to Russia’s President, the authorities’ stance is driven by the fact that the proliferation of this sort of finance may pose dangers to Russians, given the volatility of cryptocurrencies.

However, He also brought up the point that Russia offers a wide field for cryptocurrencies growth and even a place where it can help the development of the entire sector with the many advantages that the country offers.

Putin also acknowledged that Russia manages “certain competitive advantages, especially in mining” and referred “to the surplus of electricity and well-trained personnel available in the country,.”

Finally, Putin called for the issue to remain under discussion and for a unanimous decision to be reached among all parties involved.

Blockchain

Blockchain.com Brings Perpetual Futures to Self-Custody Wallets

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2026

Victor Smith

Blockchain.com has introduced perpetual futures trading directly داخل its non-custodial wallet, allowing users to trade leveraged positions while keeping full control of their crypto.

Trade Without Giving Up Custody

The new feature lets users open and manage trades without transferring funds to a centralized exchange.

Instead:

Assets remain in the user’s wallet
Private keys stay fully controlled by the user
Trades are executed seamlessly عبر integrated infrastructure

This marks a major خطوة toward combining DeFi trading with self-custody security.

Powered by Hyperliquid

The system routes trades through Hyperliquid, giving users access to:

190+ crypto markets
Up to 40x leverage
Real-time trading execution

Users can fund positions directly with Bitcoin from their wallet without needing conversions or external transfers.

What Are Perpetual Futures?

Perpetual futures are derivative contracts that allow traders to:

Take long or short positions
Use leverage to amplify exposure
Trade without expiration dates

This makes them one of the most popular أدوات trading in crypto markets.

Regulatory Momentum Building

The launch comes as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission signals potential approval for perpetual futures in the US.

Currently, these products are mostly limited to non-US users, but regulatory clarity could expand access soon.

Expanding Beyond Crypto

Blockchain.com plans to broaden the offering into multi-asset trading, including:

Foreign exchange
Stocks
Commodities

This reflects a wider industry trend where crypto platforms evolve into full financial trading ecosystems.

Industry Shift Toward Onchain Derivatives

The move aligns with growing momentum across the sector:

Exchanges are launching tokenized stock futures
Platforms are enabling 24/7 global trading
DeFi protocols are capturing more derivatives volume

Even traditional-style platforms are adopting crypto-native infrastructure.

A New Era of Self-Custody Trading

By combining self-custody wallets with advanced derivatives, Blockchain.com is addressing a long-standing trade-off:

Security vs convenience

Now, users can access sophisticated trading tools without sacrificing control of their assets.

Crypto

Bitmine Buys Over 100K ETH, Moves Closer to Controlling 5% of Supply

Published

1 week ago

April 21, 2026

Victor Smith

Bitmine Immersion Technologies has made another massive Ethereum purchase, reinforcing its position as the largest public holder of Ether and pushing closer to its ambitious long-term accumulation target.

Bitmine’s Biggest ETH Buy in Months

The company acquired 101,627 Ether (ETH) during the week of April 13 to April 19, marking its largest purchase since December 2025.

This latest buy continues a streak of aggressive accumulation over the past month, signaling strong conviction despite recent market volatility.

Total Holdings Near 5 Million ETH

Following the purchase, Bitmine now holds:

4,976,485 ETH
Valued at დაახლოებით $11.5 billion
Roughly 4.12% of total Ethereum supply

The company also maintains additional assets, including:

199 Bitcoin (BTC)
Over $1.1 billion in cash
Strategic equity stakes in multiple firms

Altogether, Bitmine’s crypto and cash holdings total around $12.9 billion.

Chasing the “5% Supply” Target

Bitmine has made it clear that its goal is to control 5% of Ether’s circulating supply, a strategy it calls the “alchemy of 5%.”

With current holdings, the company is now about 82% of the way to that target.

If achieved, it would represent one of the most concentrated institutional positions in a major cryptocurrency.

Expanding Ethereum Staking Operations

Beyond accumulation, Bitmine is also scaling its staking infrastructure through its MAVAN platform.

3.33 million ETH is currently staked
Generating over $200 million annually in staking rewards

This allows the company to earn yield while holding a large treasury position.

Strategy Reflects Long-Term Bullish Outlook

Chairman Tom Lee said the company believes Ethereum is emerging from a “mini crypto winter,” suggesting the recent downturn may be nearing its end.

Bitmine’s continued buying indicates confidence in:

Ethereum’s long-term growth
Institutional adoption trends
The role of staking in generating sustainable returns

Institutional ETH Accumulation Is Growing

Bitmine’s strategy reflects a broader shift, where public companies are increasingly building crypto treasuries similar to Bitcoin-focused firms.

Ethereum, with its staking yield and smart contract ecosystem, is becoming a key asset in these strategies.

Crypto

Japan to Test Government Bonds as Digital Collateral on Canton Network

Published

1 week ago

April 21, 2026

Victor Smith

Japan is taking another step toward modernizing its financial infrastructure, with a new pilot exploring how government bonds can function as digital collateral on blockchain rails.

Major Institutions Join Digital Collateral Trial

The Japan Securities Clearing Corporation (JSCC), part of the Japan Exchange Group, is leading the initiative alongside:

Mizuho Financial Group
Nomura Holdings
Digital Asset

Together, they will test whether Japanese government bonds can be digitized and used efficiently within blockchain-based financial systems.

Bringing Government Bonds Onchain

The pilot focuses on using Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) as digital collateral on the Canton Network.

Key objectives include:

Enabling onchain transfer and management of bonds
Preserving their legal status under existing regulations
Testing integration with current financial infrastructure

The goal is to determine whether traditional assets can move seamlessly into blockchain environments without disrupting legal frameworks.

Toward Real-Time, 24/7 Collateral Markets

One of the most important aspects of the trial is exploring real-time collateral usage.

Unlike traditional systems that operate within limited hours, blockchain infrastructure could enable:

24/7 collateral transfers
Faster settlement times
Cross-border efficiency

This could significantly improve how financial institutions manage liquidity and risk.

Backed by Japan’s Financial Regulator

The initiative has been selected by the Financial Services Agency under its Payment Innovation Project.

This signals strong regulatory support for experimenting with distributed ledger technology in core financial markets.

Building on Global Momentum

Japan’s move follows similar experiments in other markets.

A previous Canton Network pilot tested tokenized US Treasuries as reusable collateral among major global banks, demonstrating how high-quality assets can circulate more efficiently onchain.

The new trial extends that concept to one of the world’s largest sovereign bond markets.

Implications for Financial Infrastructure

If successful, the project could:

Redefine how collateral is managed globally
Improve capital efficiency for institutions
Accelerate the adoption of blockchain in traditional finance

However, no timeline for a full commercial rollout has been announced yet.

A Step Toward Tokenized Finance

This initiative highlights a broader trend of integrating traditional financial assets into blockchain systems.

By testing government bonds as digital collateral, Japan is positioning itself at the forefront of the shift toward tokenized financial infrastructure.