Plans to introduce a digital euro advanced in the European Parliament this week, with lawmakers stressing that a new form of central bank money would not replace paper cash. The step comes as officials in Brussels and Frankfurt grow more concerned about the rising use of privately issued stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar. It also unfolds as Washington prepares to bar the creation of a digital dollar later this decade.

Bybit said transfers to or from blockchain addresses associated with HTX may face enhanced reviews and could be restricted until users submit supporting information. The notice follows U.K. sanctions this week against the Panama-incorporated entity linked to Huobi Global, amid allegations of Russia-connected sanctions-evasion flows.

A Sberbank study says Russian fraudsters laundered about 295 billion rubles (over $4 billion) in a year by routing stolen money through roughly 900 crypto exchange services operating in 2025. The findings surface as Russia moves toward tighter rules that could cut the number of authorized exchangers and shift legal trading to approved intermediaries by July 1, 2026.

Belarus has expanded its approved list of underlying assets for non-deliverable OTC instruments to include digital tokens such as cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. The change was set out in a joint resolution dated May 23 and published Tuesday, taking effect on Wednesday, May 27, and is expected to support broader integration of crypto into the country's financial system.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan plans to begin purchasing cryptocurrencies and shares of crypto-related companies in April and May 2026, using up to $350 million from the country's gold and foreign exchange reserves. Authorities intend to eventually expand this state-controlled "National Strategic Crypto Reserve" to about $700 million by adding funds from the National Fund of Kazakhstan and confiscated digital coins. Senior officials say they are now selecting eligible companies and instruments, with the earmarked money temporarily parked in other money market assets until the first crypto investments are made.

On March 4, 2026, a senior official from Russia's finance ministry stated that Moscow wants to legalize stablecoin payments under a dedicated law while continuing to prohibit cryptocurrency as a means of settlement. The ministry intends to classify stablecoins, other crypto assets, and digital financial assets as different types of instruments, with fiat-pegged tokens treated as closest to standard money and regulated after a broader crypto framework is adopted.

According to a copy obtained by RBC and cited by Bits.media, the Bank of Russia and the Finance Ministry drafted a law to regulate digital-asset trading, with adoption expected in the spring session and effect no later than July 1, 2025. The bill sets licensing for venues, a 3.5 million-ruble monthly turnover bar for registrants, caps on annual purchases, testing, and transaction identifiers with reporting of transfers ≥100,000 rubles.

Russia's tax service says more than 5,500 crypto miners are now declaring their output, split between 1,500 companies and sole proprietors and 4,000 individuals. Mining was legalized by laws adopted in August and October 2024, and both registered operators and small-scale users must submit monthly reports via FNS accounts, with an online registration process available.

The Central Bank of Russia signaled that foreign crypto platforms can operate if they set up locally registered subsidiaries and comply with national rules. Under the forthcoming framework, transactions must go through regulated intermediaries, with administrative liability for using unlicensed services from July 1, 2027. First regulated crypto trades are expected by the end of 2026.