Russia

Most representatives of the government and governmental companies in Russia have changed their attitudes towards the use of Blockchain technology, as is used for the operation of Bitcoin. It’s safe to visit conferences in Russia without the threat of a visit by “KGB” like government bodies.

While most Bitcoin users in Russia prefer to hide their interest in cryptocurrency, because of the unclear outlook on cryptocurrency regulation, the head of Russia’s largest bank – Sberbank – has confirmed that he has exchanged some of the Bitcoins he had into fiat money.

QIWI, one of the most popular payment services providers in Eastern Europe and the only official representative of R3 Blockchain consortium in Russia, has developed its own data storage system using Blockchain technology and its first Bitcoin ATMs.

Russian authorities plan to discuss the legislative status of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies on December 15, 2016.

Tomorrow, November 10, 2016 Moscow will host annual Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Russia. Representatives of IBM, Microsoft, Qiwi, Sberbank and two dozens of other brands will present their views on Blockchain development to more than 500 participants.

Czech police have arrested a hacker who may be involved in the attack on BitMarket.eu.

A bill regulating Bitcoin and cryptocurrency use in Russia is still in the development stage, while local service Cryptonator is already offering a new option that allows online merchants to accept Bitcoin and other major altcoins as payment.

Despite all the negative attitude towards Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, in August employees of Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia had an opportunity to buy hot drinks for Bitcoins from the coffee stand located right in the same building as the bank’s central office in Moscow.

The University Of Innopolis and Singapore-based Life.SREDA Venture Fund launches the first accelerator, InspiRussia, to support Blockchain and FinTech start-ups in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.