The number of bitcoin ATMs has been on the rise in Russia’s capital and the rest of the country, a press report revealed this week. There is demand for the service as it offers easy access to cryptocurrencies, although not at the best exchange rates and still amid regulatory uncertainty.
More Crypto ATMs Installed in Russian Federation Despite Absence of Regulations
With growing interest in cryptocurrencies, the number of devices offering automated teller services for digital assets is increasing, the Russian business daily Kommersant noted in article. Several dozen bitcoin ATMs (BATMs) are now operating across the country, despite the lack of clarity in terms of regulation.
Moscow has taken the lead when it comes to new installations. Quoting one of the companies behind them, Rusbit, the newspaper revealed that 14 new ‘cryptomats’ have appeared in the capital city this year, bringing the total across the Russian Federation to 52 units. Given Russia’s territory and population, that’s still a relatively small number but Rusbit expects a spike in 2023.
Most BATMs allow users to purchase one or more coins with cash or a non-cash payment method like a credit card and then receive the digital money to a crypto wallet. Some also support the sale of cryptocurrency for fiat, but the machines in Russia do not currently offer such cash withdrawals.
Rusbit offers its ATMs for between $1,800 and 3,600 and maintains them for 1% of the turnover. The company says its business is completely legal regarding the law “On Digital Financial Assets” (DFAs) which went into force in January, last year. The devices share data with the Federal Tax Service just like cash registers and verify the identities of customers, keeping records of their crypto addresses.
However, legal experts interviewed by the publication say that the bitcoin teller machines are still “in the gray zone” as far as regulations are concerned. The DFA law only partially regulated cryptocurrencies and related activities while the Russian parliament is yet to review and adopt a more comprehensive bill “On Digital Currency.”
According to Ksenia Petrovets, senior associate at the Birch Legal law firm, the current legislation does not cover operations for the exchange of digital currency for fiat money or other cryptocurrencies and these are neither explicitly prohibited nor directly legalized and regulated.
Alexander Sharapov, a lawyer from KSK Group, pointed out that it’s…
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