Belarus blocks ByBit, Bitget, OKX as Russia clamps down on crypto gray area

The Belarusian Ministry of Information restricted access to the global domains of several major cryptocurrency exchanges, including Bybit, OKX, and Bitget, citing "inappropriate advertising." This action occurred on the same day that Russia's Central Bank signaled a potential easing of regulated crypto access requirements for qualified investors, even as it clamps down on the gray market. Vladimir Chistyukhin, first deputy chairman at the Central Bank of Russia, acknowledged the utility of cryptocurrency for cross-border payments amid international sanctions, contrasting this with the need to protect retail investors from risky assets. Russia is considering limiting initial access to those meeting high wealth thresholds, though allowing non-qualified investors access to only the most liquid instruments remains under discussion, provided strict regulations are established.

(Source：Cointelegraph)