News linked to both this project and an event.
According to DL News, the Russian government has published a draft bill on the State Duma’s website proposing criminal liability—including up to seven years of forced labor—for organizing cryptocurrency circulation without registration or without approval from the Central Bank of Russia. The draft states that ordinary violators could face fines of up to approximately $4,000 and imprisonment of up to four years; operators of large cryptocurrency exchanges could face fines of up to approximately $13,000, with responsible individuals facing five to seven years’ imprisonment. The bill also proposes requiring most cryptocurrency transactions to be conducted via commercial bank apps and imposes penalties on industrial-scale cryptocurrency miners who fail to declare their activities. If approved by the State Duma and the President, the new regulations are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.
According to DL News, Jeremy Allaire, CEO of stablecoin issuer Circle, stated that the company currently has no plans to launch a Korean won-pegged stablecoin but is closely monitoring legislative developments in South Korea and seeking to expand its business within the local regulatory framework. Should South Korea establish a legal pathway allowing global enterprises to enter the market, Circle would be willing to apply for a license, establish a local branch, and provide technical support to Korean institutions issuing stablecoins.
According to DL News, Bitcoin has surged 8% over the past two weeks and is currently trading near $74,000. Max Kahn, CEO of Digital Wealth Partners, noted that Bitcoin’s next upward move hinges on three key factors: first, inflation data driven by energy prices; second, market expectations regarding the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy—should inflation remain under control and market sentiment shift toward dovish expectations, risk assets like Bitcoin would benefit directly; and third, sustained institutional inflows, with Bitcoin ETFs recording $523 million in net inflows in April, continuing the strong performance seen since March.
According to DL News, the Central Bank of Russia plans to require all cryptocurrency traders to undergo identity verification and push domestic exchanges to fully implement “Know Your Customer” (KYC) protocols to de-anonymize cryptocurrency transactions within the country. The related regulations are expected to take effect in July this year. The central bank also requires Russian citizens to declare their cryptocurrency assets held in overseas wallets to the Federal Tax Service. The new rules will also prohibit users from directly transferring assets from Russian custodial wallets to overseas non-custodial wallets; all transfers must go through official cryptocurrency custodians and exchanges. The central bank stated it will not confiscate citizens’ cryptocurrency assets but emphasized enhanced oversight of non-custodial wallets to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and KYC requirements. Additionally, Russia plans to launch a blockchain-based digital ruble to improve economic transparency and curb capital flight.
Odaily News According to the Russian Central Bank, it plans to require its citizens to report their crypto assets held overseas after the new round of crypto regulatory rules take effect.Vladimir Chistyukhin, First Deputy Governor of the Russian Central Bank, pointed out that the new regulations will strengthen KYC requirements for exchanges to enhance transaction transparency. He also emphasized that the regulations do not prohibit individuals or institutions from holding crypto assets in overseas wallets, but they must be reported to the Federal Tax Service. This measure is expected to take effect in July along with the relevant regulatory framework. (DL News)
According to DL News, Irkutskenergosbyt—a state-owned power company in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast—recently identified over 8,000 suspected illegal cryptocurrency mining operations disguised as chicken coops, greenhouses, forests, paper mills, and abandoned gas stations. Since 2019, the company has filed 2,170 lawsuits against illegal miners, seeking a total of $18.5 million in compensation; courts have ordered fines amounting to roughly half that sum, while some cases were settled out of court. Miners frequently mask their activities as electric-vehicle charging or agricultural power use, resulting in electricity losses. To safeguard grid stability, several Russian regions have shut down licensed industrial mining facilities and plan to deploy artificial intelligence tools to detect illegal mining.
According to DL News, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is intensifying its crackdown on cryptocurrency-related tax evasion, with particular focus on new reporting requirements for the 2025 tax year. The IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division has prioritized cryptocurrency tax cases, and investors must proactively report relevant transactions before the April 15 tax-filing deadline. Starting in 2025, Form 1099-DA—introduced for the first time—requires brokers to report investors’ total digital asset transaction proceeds to both investors and the IRS; however, investors themselves must calculate and verify their cost basis. Reports from Coinbase and CoinTracker indicate that approximately 61% of U.S. cryptocurrency investors are unaware of the new rules, and 52% fear penalties resulting from filing errors. Experts advise investors to gather all transaction records and file accurate returns to avoid criminal penalties, including fines of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to five years.
According to DL News, several “revenge intermediaries” in South Korea that accept cryptocurrency as payment have recently remained highly active. These organizations receive orders via Telegram and offer services including intimidation, assault, and even murder disguised as accidents. They require clients to pay a 50% deposit in USDT and promise to send footage of the operation—recorded using body-worn cameras—via Telegram. Although the alleged ringleader was arrested on April 3, related online advertisements continued to appear as recently as April 13. This year, South Korean police have launched investigations into more than 50 such cases and arrested approximately 30 individuals; all cases were confirmed to involve cryptocurrency payments.