Russia blocks access to major crypto aggregator BestChange
The action comes amidst stricter regulations in Russia on cryptocurrency activities, including mining and digital asset advertisements.
Russia’s telecoms watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has blocked access to BestChange, one of the largest crypto over-the-counter aggregators in Eastern Europe. While the regulator has not provided an official reason, the platform has been added to the list of banned websites. BestChange’s legal team is already working to restore access, though no details on the ban’s cause have been disclosed.
It is not the first time BestChange has faced restrictions. It was first blocked in 2017 when a court in St Petersburg ruled that Bitcoin was a monetary surrogate, making enforcement difficult due to the blockchain’s irreversible transactions. Although that ban was lifted in 2018, Roskomnadzor imposed restrictions again in 2019, only to remove them months later.
The latest ban follows Russia’s recent law restricting crypto mining and digital asset advertisements. Under these new rules, advertisements for exchanges, mining, smart contracts, and wallet-tracking services are prohibited. Major platforms such as Yandex have already adjusted their policies, tightening restrictions on crypto-related promotions.
