Russia’s tightening regulations on cryptocurrency mining have led to a surge in licensing applications, with the tax authorities receiving 150 submissions since November 1, 2024.
Daniil Egorov, head of the Federal Tax Service, stated that the process is just beginning, and more applications are expected. Miners using under 6,000 kWh of energy monthly are exempt from registration, but others must disclose mining assets and wallet information.
While some speculate that Russia may be following China’s lead in restricting crypto, experts believe the government’s goal is to tax the growing digital asset sector. Other countries, like India and Denmark, have also introduced high taxes on crypto.
Russia’s push to regulate mining comes amidst concerns over its energy consumption and may signal a broader shift toward crypto acceptance, similar to El Salvador’s legalization of Bitcoin.
In addition, nations like Bhutan have recently profited from Bitcoin sales, despite not recognizing cryptocurrencies as legal tender. Bhutan’s government wallet now holds over a billion dollars in crypto, bolstered by a recent market rally.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has hinted that U.S. banks may soon see more flexibility when it comes to handling digital assets—a notable shift from the cautious approach regulators have maintained in recent years.
Concerns over unchecked influence in Washington have prompted a new legislative push to tighten ethics rules for part-time federal advisors with ties to powerful corporations.
New York may soon allow residents to use digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum to pay for services tied to the state.
Japan is preparing to reshape its crypto regulations with a fresh proposal that would divide digital assets into two distinct categories—one for business-backed tokens and another for decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.