The Russian government is reviewing a draft law to classify cryptocurrencies as property, aiming to address issues related to the seizure and confiscation of digital assets. This development was reported by RBC, citing a statement from Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee.
“Meticulous joint efforts have been made regarding the necessity of recognizing digital currency as property for the purposes of criminal and criminal-procedural legislation, resolving issues related to the seizure of digital currency and its recognition as physical evidence, as well as determining the specifics of confiscating digital currency during investigative actions,” the official stated.
According to RBC, the Investigative Committee has been advocating for these provisions since at least 2021. At that time, Bastrykin noted that without such measures, it is “difficult to effectively counter illegal operations involving digital assets.”
In March, Reuters reported on the use of cryptocurrencies in Russian oil transactions.