Russia Steps Up To Legalize Stablecoins For International Transfers

The Russian Government plans to legalize stablecoins to facilitate cross-border payments. Given the U.S. sanctions imposed after the Ukraine-Russia conflict, this move will simplify Russia’s international funds transfers as an alternative. 

A report published by state-run media outlet Izvestia uncovered that the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) is currently assessing a proposal to allow the use of crypto assets pegged on USD, avoiding concerns about price fluctuation. The Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia, Alexey Guznov, affirmed the government’s intentions to feature stablecoins for international transfers.

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He said:

Russian authorities want to legalize stablecoins for international payments. This possibility is currently being discussed, and proposals have already been formulated.

The Chairman further revealed that the government plans to oversee all chains involved in transactions to ensure transparency. This includes transferring funds into Russia and accumulating these funds in one place for cross-border transfers. The report says officials consider this a permanent regulatory approach to implement. 

Guznov said further key aspects of the proposed regulation are expected to appear in the new bill as experts review related policies. Citing the stablecoins’ widespread popularity and demand, he also hinted at the need for tightened rules to avoid potential losses. 

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) Executive Vice President Alexander Murychev also welcomed stablecoin assets. He commented that stablecoins would inject liquidity into the market and become the source of flourishing settlement tools in BRICS nations. BRICS refers to an economic alliance between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 

Russia Trade With China Using Stablecoins

Also, it is not Russia’s first interaction with digital assets. In May 2024, reports arose that Russian authorities were initiating the operation of fiat-pegged currencies to process transactions with Chinese peers to overcome regulatory sanctions imposed by financial watchdogs. 

Russia’s trade with China increased significantly from Feb. 2022 to 2023, reaching a record value of $240 billion in payment settlements. This highlighted the need for a digital asset framework within the state. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a permit to allow the international exchange of goods using digital financial assets (DFAs). 

Stablecoins Eliminates The Risk Of Secondary Sanctions

However, Murychev addressed concerns about DFAs, including the fact that they can possibly experience secondary sanctions risks and lack sufficient liquidity and conversion mechanisms.

A leading financial analyst, Natalya Milchakova, who worked for Freedom Finance Global (a Kazakhstan-based licensed corporation), ensured that dealing with stablecoins has no secondary sanction risks. Stablecoins, unlike DFAs, allow anyone to make payment settlements with sanctioned entities. 

Russia has been a dominant body of the BRICS alliances and aims to bring the implementation of digital assets in the financial framework closer. From the beginning of the BRICS block, rumors arouse that alliances would develop a common currency to utilize shared benefits among nations. However, no information about the common digital asset has yet been disclosed.

The former Russian Ambassador, Yuri Ushakov, speaking of the BRICS payment system, stated:

We believe that creating an independent BRICS payment system is an important goal for the future, which would be based on state-of-the-art tools such as digital technologies and blockchain.

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