Russia Can Avoid Sanctions By Using A Wide Range Of Cryptocurrency Tools

As the Biden administration slaps economic sanctions against Russia to contain the crisis in Ukraine, Russia is using various cryptocurrency tools to maintain access to foreign capital.

As Russia attacked Ukraine, cryptocurrency prices fell sharply. On Thursday morning, Bitcoin prices declined to more than 8%, to settle at $34,702.18, marking its lowest level in around a month. 

Ether fell more than 8% to trade around $2,407.47.

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Economists have approximated that the U.S. sanctions would cost Russia around $50 billion annually.

However, the Russian government seemed to have prepared themselves for the worst by connecting with financial networks who are willing to work with them. 

One of which is linking with digital currency firms who do not undergo any government regulation and function independently on blockchains.

“Russia has had a lot of time to think about this specific consequence. It would be naïve to think that they haven’t gamed out exactly this scenario,” Michael Parker, a former federal prosecutor in an interview with the New York Times, said.

Economic sanctions are some of the most powerful suppression tools that many Western countries have used in times of war and crises.

During the Russian invasion of Crimea, the United States restricted its banks from dealing business with Russian oil, ghas and financial institutions, the latter’s economy was badly impacted.

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While the US is the one to initiate, the way to make sanctions effective is through the global financial system. 

International banks monitor the flow of money and are tasked with blocking transactions on sanctioned nations.

This is rendered impossible, however, as the Russian government is set to launch its own central bank for the digital Rubble. It seeks to trade directly with countries without having to go through the American currency.

To cover their activities from blockchain recording mechanisms, Russia also developed new technology to hide their transactions, even from third-party investigators.

A similar move has been done by North Korea which made use of cryptocurrencies to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile program, according to Reuters. 

Iran was also reported to be gaining money from crypto mining to make up for its revenue loss due to its ability to sell oil because of sanctions.

The Russian Blockchain Empire

Presently, Russia is growing a ransomware and blockchain industry.

Last year, entities connected to Russia earned about 74% of total global income, more than $400 million worth of cryptocurrency, according to a Feb. 14 report by the blockchain-tracking firm Chainalysis.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in the Donbas region on Wednesday, Bitcoin prices declined to $35,000, indicating a drop of more than 8% compared to a day earlier.

Bitcoin was trading at $34,969 as of 1:22 a.m. Eastern Time, according to CoinMarketCap.