Russia’s Duma considers ban on exchange after Veribit customer asks for cryptocurrency and receives chocolate
The problem began with reports that Russian authorities raided the offices of cryptocurrency exchange Beribit in late March in connection with the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall. Then Beribit, an officially licensed exchange in Russia, announced via Telegram that an audit had to be conducted after discrepancies were discovered in the company’s finances during a leadership change.
Now tensions appear to have escalated, with more than 50 VeriBit customers occupying the exchange’s offices and demanding the return of more than $4 million in funds, according to Russian-language news site Gazeta.Ru. Videos circulating on social media show chocolates being offered to customers in return, along with promises that deposits will be cleared within 1 to 15 days.
According to the report, Berry Beat employees tried to escape out the back door, but were stopped by angry customers and called the police. Beribit claimed it was processing withdrawals and that the first payments had already been delivered to customers, but another report claimed that the only customers who received funds were those who filed police reports.
Russian Duma considers ban on exchanges
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Russia’s lower house of parliament, the Duma, have proposed a bill banning cryptocurrency trading in Russia. However, government-registered cryptocurrency trading and mining companies are still permitted, Gazeta reported. The bill also bans cryptocurrency advertising.
In response, another lawmaker argued that such a ban would undermine Russia’s national security interests because cryptocurrencies are used to buy weapons and other defense equipment from non-Western countries and to evade sanctions and other restrictions.
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