President Vladimir Putin has signed a brand new legislation granting Russian courts the ability to grab or confiscate crypto belongings equivalent to Bitcoin. It comes as Russia pushes for crypto laws and crackdown international crypto exchanges. Additionally, Telegram founder Pavel Durov is going through prison investigations within the nation.
Russian President Putin Indicators Legislation to Confiscate Crypto and Bitcoin
President Vladimir Putin signed a brand new legislation that can amend Russia’s Legal Code and Legal Process Code, recognizing crypto belongings as intangible property, Kommersant reported.
The legislation grants courts the ability to grab or confiscate digital belongings, together with Bitcoin, in prison instances. The legislation stipulates that police or prosecutors’ requests to confiscate crypto should embrace particulars on the kind and amount of crypto belongings, together with the pockets addresses.
In some instances, funds could also be transferred to a particular deal with. The federal government should decide the procedures for transfers and storage.
Deputy Justice Minister Elena Ardabyeva stated the legislation codifies the prevailing apply of seizing digital belongings. The legislation additionally supplies authorized grounds for cooperation with international crypto exchanges.
Russia is engaged on new crypto laws this 12 months and desires merchants to make use of home platforms or crypto exchanges which have a bodily presence in Russia.
Russia’s Crackdown on Crypto and Telegram Founder Pavel Durov
Specialists say the Kremlin may start blocking residents’ entry to international crypto exchanges this 12 months. The federal government claims that residents spend a collective $650 million a day on crypto buying and selling.
Current U.S and EU developments deal with banning crypto transactions with Russian entities to tighten sanctions. Blockchain analytics agency Elliptic reported that Bitpapa, Garantex, and ABCeX had been among the many crypto exchanges linked to Russian-tied transactions evading Western sanctions.
It coincides with the federal government’s plans to introduce new crypto market regulatory legal guidelines by July 1. Russia would possibly draw from Belarus’ mannequin, which restricts unlicensed international platforms however doesn’t totally eradicate entry.
Some imagine the US may drop behind Russia in crypto regulation because of the Readability Act politicization. As talks on stablecoin yields advance following the White Home’s March 1 deadline proposal, the percentages of passing dropped to 48% on Polymarket.
In the meantime, Telegram founder Pavel Durov confirmed that Russia has opened a prison case towards him for “aiding terrorism.” He claims Russia is limiting entry to Telegram as they search to suppress the precise to privateness and free speech.
Russia has opened a prison case towards me for “aiding terrorism.” Every day, the authorities fabricate new pretexts to limit Russians’ entry to Telegram as they search to suppress the precise to privateness and free speech. A tragic spectacle of a state afraid of its personal individuals.
— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 24, 2026
