64% of Russians are aware of the existence of cryptocurrencies, of whom 32% back a full ban on Bitcoin operations in the country. The findings come from a VCIOM telephone опроса conducted among 1,600 Russian citizens aged 18 and over.
Among respondents familiar with Bitcoin, 42% believe that anyone can buy it, 24% think the first cryptocurrency is available to a restricted circle, and 15% believe that its purchase is already prohibited in the Russian Federation.
Of all respondents, only 4% had personally purchased Bitcoin. Meanwhile, 16% expressed a desire to buy the coin, versus 81% who did not wish to invest in it.
Explaining their decision, 22% of the first group described the cryptocurrency as a good investment, 38% argued that Bitcoin is well protected and harder to steal than ordinary money. By contrast, 56% consider crypto investments unprofitable, and 27% doubt the asset’s security.
Among Russians who know Bitcoin, 32% supported the Central Bank of Russia’s proposals for a full ban on cryptocurrency transactions; the same share opposed, and another 33% of respondents were indifferent to the regulator’s initiative.
On average, 52% of people aged 18-34 are inclined to back the legalisation of Bitcoin transactions. Among respondents older than 60, only 15% view the ban proposal unfavourably, and 53% back it.
Earlier, the central bank put forward for discussion a proposal on a full ban on the circulation and mining of cryptocurrencies in the Russian Federation. The regulator’s initiative has already been criticised in the State Duma, the government and security agencies.
In contrast to the Bank of Russia’s hardline stance, the Ministry of Finance presented its own concept for regulating the market, envisaging conducting transactions with digital currency through banks, full user identification and monitoring of transactions.
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