Russian Crypto Volumes Slump After Binance Blocks Visa, Mastercard
Russian crypto trading volumes sank after Binance blocked cards issued by Visa and Mastercard in the country. While Russian citizens still have access to crypto exchanges, it appears that sanctions on conventional payment systems are affecting their ability to trade.
While most crypto exchanges have opposed blanket bans on Russian users, they have stopped accepting payments from sanctioned banks and services, limiting the channels through which Russians can invest in crypto. This has also made people wary of storing their wealth in crypto, fearing a loss of access.
Payment operators Visa, Mastercard and American Express have all suspended their services in Russia citing American sanctions. Most foreign banks have also ceased operations in the country.
Data from digital assets data provider Kaiko showed that ruble-denominated trading volumes of Bitcoin and Tether had steadily dropped after Binance’s move last week, and were now at levels seen prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kaiko also noted a divergence between ruble and hyrvnia- denominated crypto trade. BTC-UAH buying surged in the wake of the invasion, indicating that Ukrainian traders were piling into crypto amid financial uncertainty.
Ukrainian trading volumes have remained elevated, with Tether seeing high demand in the country. Citizens were seen paying an up to 20% premium for the stablecoin, as the hyrvnia collapsed.
But BTC-RUB volumes only budged after the imposition of sanctions, specifically the banning of Russian banks from the SWIFT network. Western sanctions against Moscow are the strictest they’ve ever been, and effectively block Russia from most global financial markets.
The United States recently also blocked imports of Russian oil, with Europe considering a similar move. This would further unsettle the Russian economy, given that oil is its largest export.
Ruble recovers from record low against Bitcoin
Lower BTC-RUB trading activity helped the Russian ruble recover from record lows against Bitcoin. One Bitcoin is now worth about 4.6 million rubles, a slight improvement from the over 5 million peg seen last week.
Still, the ruble faces immense pressure in exchange markets. It is trading around record lows to the dollar and the euro.
- ‘Floki Is The CEO’: FLOKI Surges Over 20% After Elon Musk’s Name Drop
- Breaking: Ripple-Backed Evernorth to Establish $1B XRP Treasury to ‘Accelerate’ XRP’s Adoption
- Breaking: Michael Saylor’s Strategy Acquires 168 Bitcoin as Crypto Market Rebounds
- Breaking: $10T BlackRock Launches Bitcoin ETP in London As UK FCA Eases Crypto Ban
- How Will “Unusual” US CPI Inflation Data Release Could Impact Fed Rate Cut, Crypto Market?
- Pi Coin Price Eyes 50% Upswing As AI-Powered App Studio Update Ignites Optimism
- Bitcoin Price Prediction as Gaussian Channel Turns Green Amid U.S.–China Trade Progress and Fed Rate Cut Hopes
- Solana Price Prediction: Analyst Notes Bearish Breakdown Amid Derivatives Slowdown
- Shiba Inu Price Eyes Recovery as Burn Rate Jumps 10,785% – Can SHIB Hit $0.000016?
- Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction: Analyst Eyes $7,000 by Q4 as Bitmine Accumulates $281M ETH — Will History Repeat Itself?
- HYPE Price Teeters Amid Weak Technicals and Soaring Liquidations
Why Trust CoinGape
CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
