Binance, World's Largest Crypto Exchange, Hopes Russia Will Help Regional Growth

Russia President Vladimir Putin has called for the central bank to find a consensus on how to deal with the cryptocurrency business.

Binance, World's Largest Crypto Exchange, Hopes Russia Will Help Regional Growth

Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Binance

Binance backed tech that will set the crypto industry on the road to becoming well-regulated

Highlights
  • President Vladimir Putin has called for the central bank
  • Russia for years opposed cryptocurrencies
  • The global hashrate was reduced by about 20 percent this month
Advertisement

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, wants to expand in Russia and neighbouring states where it sees prospects for new regulations that will boost its business, an executive said.

Russian politicians have pressed for a change of tack by the central bank, which has proposed restricting cryptocurrency trading and mining because of concerns it may cause financial instability. They say it should instead regulate a business which could draw in more tax revenues.

President Vladimir Putin has called for the central bank to find a consensus on how to deal with the cryptocurrency business, which central banks and regulators around the globe have been grappling with.

"Our goal is to obtain a licence and conduct legal business where the regulation allows," Binance Eastern European Director Gleb Kostarev told Reuters, adding that his company hoped for a progressive regulatory approach from Russia that could influence the approach taken by its neighbours.

Kostarev said Russia, where the central bank says the annual volume of cryptocurrency transactions stands at about $5 billion (roughly Rs. 37,460 crore), was strategically important for Binance.

He described the central bank's proposals to restrict trading as harsh, adding: "For now, we consider this as an invitation to dialogue with the regulator."

Russia for years opposed cryptocurrencies, saying they could be used in money laundering or to finance terrorism. It gave them legal status in 2020 but banned their use for payments.

Kostarev said Russia's approach now could help determine how other nations in the region dealt with cryptocurrencies.

"In Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan they are more loyal to cryptocurrencies and are taking steps towards liberalisation, rather than restriction," he said. "But local regulators are taking these steps with an eye on Russia."

The global hashrate, which refers to the computing power used by computers connected to the bitcoin network, was reduced by about 20 percent this month because of political unrest and power blackouts in Kazakhstan, Binance estimated.

Kostarev said the rate was now recovering.

A Reuters investigation last week showed Binance withheld information about its finances and corporate structure from regulators, even as it welcomed government oversight and lauded its anti-money laundering programme.

A Binance spokesperson responded saying the company backed "technologies and legislation that will set the crypto industry on the road to becoming a well-regulated, secure industry."

The investigation also found Binance acted against its own compliance department by recruiting customers in Russia and six other states deemed to be of "extreme" money-laundering risk.

Binance said it had "one of the most sophisticated approaches" to enforcing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing in the finance sector and internal risk ratings were adjusted according to a range of variables.


Interested in cryptocurrency? We discuss all things crypto with WazirX CEO Nischal Shetty and WeekendInvesting founder Alok Jain on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Bentley Says First Luxury Electric Car Due 2025, Announces Plans on Becoming Carbon-Zero Company
Share on Facebook Gadgets360 Twitter Share Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Comment google-newsGoogle News

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »