1. Home
  2. Ukraine

Ukraine

Ukraine collabs with international consultants to update crypto framework

The Advisory Council on the Regulation of Virtual Assets held its first meeting, dedicated to adjusting the National Tax Code to the crypto market.

Working on their national crypto framework, the amendments to the law “On virtual assets,” the Ukrainian regulatory community actively collaborates with international experts. The list includes the international consultancy firm Ernst&Young and the USAID Financial Sector Reform project. 

On Dec. 1, the Advisory Council on the Regulation of Virtual Assets, organized by the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, held its first meeting. The regulatory experts discussed the amendments to the law "On virtual assets", which should adjust the National Tax Code to crypto regulation. The event was attended by representatives of the President's Office, the National Bank of Ukraine, expert organizations and the market community.

Ruslan Magomedov, the National Tax Agency of Ukraine chair, revealed that the regulators are working closely with Ernst&Young and the USAID to implement the European Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation in the Ukrainian virtual assets market.

Related: National Bank of Ukraine releases draft concept for digital hryvnia

As Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament (Rada), noted, the national approach will rely on the “do no harm” principle:

“The goal is simple — to make crypto circulation in Ukraine legal and safe, but according to the principle of "do no harm", so that the market receives not regulation, but incentives for development and competitive advantages”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law “On Virtual Assets” in March 2022. The bill establishes the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine as two major regulators of the crypto market.

In November, a group of pro-crypto Ukrainian lawmakers and the public union Virtual Assets of Ukraine (VAU) revealed a joint roadmap for promoting and developing Web3 in the country. The roadmap proposes the launch of a regulatory sandbox for blockchain and Web3 projects. It also implements the creation of a national blockchain-backed land and realty register and the integration of Ukraine into the European Blockchain Partnership.

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

National Bank of Ukraine Unveils E-hryvnia Concept

National Bank of Ukraine Unveils E-hryvnia ConceptThe central bank of Ukraine has presented to interested parties a draft concept of the nation’s future digital currency, the e-hryvnia. The regulator is currently considering several potential applications for its digital coin, including retail payments and cross-border settlements. Ukraine’s Monetary Authority Introduces Banks and Businesses to E-hryvnia Project The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) […]

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

Ukraine-based blockchain firm blasts ‘fake news’ for crypto donation rumors amid FTX collapse

Sergey Vasylchuk, the CEO of Everstake, said individuals behind Russian propaganda used the fall of FTX "to spin yet another tale about money laundering."

Everstake, a blockchain firm that partnered with the Ukrainian government to launch a donation website amid the country’s war with Russia, has pushed back against online rumors and conspiracy theories that the platform was used for politically motivated money laundering. 

Ukrainian government officials partnered with Everstake, Kuna and the now infamous crypto exchange FTX to launch Aid for Ukraine in March following the Russian military’s invasion. According to the platform, crypto users and Ukraine supporters sent roughly $60 million in crypto and fiat aimed at supporting Ukraine’s armed forces and other humanitarian causes. However, with FTX’s liquidity issues and bankruptcy, Sam Bankman-Fried seemingly falling from grace, and possible legal action against the firm and its executives, social media users have taken many liberties with the truth speculating over the final destination of the crypto donations.

The conspiracy theories promulgated online falsely claim that due to its association with FTX and Bankman-Fried’s previous political donations, Aid for Ukraine’s funds ended up being funneled to the United States Democratic Party. An Everstake spokesperson branded such rumors as Russian propaganda, which was spread by North Carolina Representative Madison Cawthorn’s Twitter account, and “biased media, like Fox News and Russia Today.”

According to Everstake, the false claims do not “correspond with reality” given that the majority of the funds already went towards helmets, bulletproof vests, and night vision technology for Ukraine’s military, as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported in August. The spokesperson added that the situation with FTX “does not affect the operation of Aid For Ukraine,” as the platform only used the exchange “a few times” to convert crypto donations to fiat in March and had no funds stored on FTX at the time of its collapse.

“Every time Russia is defeated on the battlefield, it starts looking for another way to cover up its military failures in the media by spreading fake news based on made-up assumptions,” said Everstake CEO Sergey Vasylchuk. “This time, they decided to use the collapse of FTX to spin yet another tale about money laundering. It is obvious that Western support of Ukraine hurts Russia as it leads to its losses on the battlefield. We know for a fact that every donation was spent for the benefit of Ukraine.”

One of the kernels of truth within the rumor surrounds Bankman-Fried admitting to being a “significant donor” for political candidates in the U.S. 2022 midterm elections, but with the majority of his contributions going towards Democrats. On Nov. 29, the Texas Tribune reported that Texas gubenatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke — a Democrat who lost his race against incumbent Greg Abbott — returned a $1 donation from SBF prior to election day.

"I wish I could have pulled that off," Bankman-Fried jokingly said in a Nov. 16 interview with Tiffany Fong addressing the rumors. "I was helping Ukraine launder funds for the Democratic Party? [...] I wished I was part of an international conspiracy that interesting."

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Vasylchuk said that Ukrainian government officials had been forced to respond to “serious people” inquiring about the online rumors. The Everstake CEO speculated that recent shakeup at Twitter amid Elon Musk taking over as CEO had further opened the doors for conspiracy theories to run amok on the platform, like the one related to FTX and Ukraine’s crypto donations.

Related: Ukraine-based blockchain firm announces ‘we’re still hiring’ amid market downturn, war

“Society is blind to stop the spread of lying and propaganda,” said Vasylchuk. “We see how propaganda can influence like in Russia — [they fooled] millions of people. At the same time, I see them turn to [fooling] Americans, and social media can do the same. So, I’m really scared. I’m scared for the information and scared how it’s easy to manipulate or to force people to believe some type of this information.”

He added:

“This information was similar to information like ‘Ukraine developed battle mosquitoes which will bite Russians’ [...] I was thinking that American society is much more mature than it is in [Europe], and the people are actually able to feel the reality, the obvious bullshit, but unfortunately not.”

Vasylchuk reported that crypto donations through Aid for Ukraine had tapered off in recent months. Many crypto users are expected to send cash and tokens to various organizations as part of Giving Tuesday, or Bitcoin Tuesday, on Nov. 29.

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

National Bank of Ukraine releases draft concept for digital hryvnia

One of the design options for the Ukrainian CBDC describes the e-hryvnia available for usage in crypto exchange operations.

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has introduced a draft concept for its central bank digital currency (CBDC) candidate digital hryvnia, or e-hryvnia.

Ukraine’s central bank on Nov. 28 released a statement on the concept of e-hryvnia, which aims to perform all the functions of money by supplementing cash and non-cash forms of the hryvnia as its key purpose.

The NBU said it has presented the e-hryvnia concept and continues developing the CBDC project with participants of the virtual assets market, payment firms and state bodies.

According to the announcement, the central bank is currently considering and developing three possible CBDC options, depending on design and main characteristics.

The first option describes the e-hryvnia for retail non-cash payments with the possible functionality of “programmed” money through smart contracts. A retail e-hryvnia would enable the implementation of targeted social payments and the reduction of government expenditures on administration, the NBU said.

The second CBDC option envisions the e-hryvnia available for usage in operations related to cryptocurrency exchange, issuance and other virtual asset operations. “The e-hryvnia can become one of the key elements of quality infrastructure development for the virtual assets market in Ukraine,” the announcement notes.

The third option includes the e-hryvnia to enable cross-border payments in order to provide faster, cheaper and more transparent global transactions.

“The development and implementation of the e-hryvnia can be the next step in the evolution of the payment infrastructure of Ukraine,” Oleksii Shaban, director of NBU payment systems and innovative development department, said in the statement. He added that a Ukrainian CBDC could have a positive impact on ensuring economic security and strengthening the monetary sovereignty of the state, as well as e sustainable economic growth.

Related: Russia aims to use CBDC for international settlements with China

According to the announcement, the Ukrainian Intellectual Property Institute registered the trademark “e-hryvnia” for the NBU in October 2022.

As previously reported, the NBU has been actively studying the possibility of issuing a CBDC in recent years, hiring blockchain developers and cooperating with major industry projects like the Stellar Development Foundation.

According to the regulator, the NBU launched a pilot project ​to issue the e-hryvnia for blockchain-based retail payments back in 2018.

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

Putin Calls for International Settlements Based on Blockchain and Digital Currencies

Putin Calls for International Settlements Based on Blockchain and Digital CurrenciesRussian President Vladimir Putin believes a new system for international money transfers is needed to reduce dependence on big banks and third parties. He is convinced that cross-border payments relying on digital currency and distributed ledger technology will be “much more convenient.” Russia’s Head of State Urges for Blockchain-Powered International Payments President of Russia Vladimir […]

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

Quant Analyst PlanB Says Bitcoin (BTC) on Track To Explode by Over 500% – Here’s the Timeline

Quant Analyst PlanB Says Bitcoin (BTC) on Track To Explode by Over 500% – Here’s the Timeline

Popular quantitative analyst PlanB, known for his stock-to-flow Bitcoin (BTC) model, is expressing bullish sentiment for the flagship crypto asset. In a new interview with crypto trader Benjamin Cowen, PlanB says that while the current sentiment towards crypto is bearish due to the disintegration of digital assets exchange FTX, it wouldn’t shock him if the […]

The post Quant Analyst PlanB Says Bitcoin (BTC) on Track To Explode by Over 500% – Here’s the Timeline appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

New Council at Ukraine’s Securities Watchdog to Draft Crypto Taxation Regulations

New Council at Ukraine’s Securities Watchdog to Draft Crypto Taxation RegulationsA special council under Ukraine’s securities regulator will be tasked to develop rules for crypto taxation in the country. The new body will be also responsible for coordinating the regulation of various crypto activities and adjustments to the applicable legislation. Advisory Board to Take On Matters Related to Cryptocurrency Taxation in Ukraine The National Securities […]

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

Russia and Cuba Eye Cryptocurrencies for Settlements Amid Sanctions

Russia and Cuba Eye Cryptocurrencies for Settlements Amid SanctionsBoth facing sanctions, Russia and Cuba are looking into alternative options for cross-border payments, including cryptocurrencies, a Kremlin advisor has unveiled in Havana. Moscow is already developing a mechanism for crypto settlements to circumvent financial restrictions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. Crypto and Ruble Considered for Payments in Trade Between Russia and Cuba The […]

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

Ukraine’s Deputy Digital Minister Rejects ‘FTX-Democrats Narrative’

Ukraine’s Deputy Digital Minister Rejects ‘FTX-Democrats Narrative’Claims that Ukraine has invested military aid into the bankrupt crypto exchange FTX have been rebutted by a representative of the Ukrainian government. Speculation circulated on social media suggested such funds have been returning to the U.S. via FTX donations for the Democratic Party. Kyiv Official Describes as Nonsense Allegation That Ukrainian Investment in FTX […]

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst

Ukraine pro-crypto groups announce Web3 roadmap

A roadmap proposes the launch of a regulatory sandbox and the creation of a national blockchain-backed realty register

A group of pro-crypto Ukrainian lawmakers, Blockchain4Ukraine, and the citizen group Virtual Assets of Ukraine (VAU) revealed a joint roadmap for promoting and developing Web3 in the country. The document was signed by its co-authors on Nov. 14, according to regional media. 

The roadmap proposes a set of measures for promoting Web3, such as the launch of a regulatory sandbox for blockchain and Web3 projects, the creation of a national blockchain-backed land and realty register, the preparation of a “blockchain plan” to rebuild the country after the war and integration of Ukraine into the European blockchain community.

VAU and Blockchain4Ukraine also intend to work on a self-sovereign identity pilot project and to seek ways of implementing blockchain into Ukraine’s healthcare and education systems.

The list of potential partners of the roadmap includes civil society, non-government organizations, as well as business and scientific communities. The group working on the roadmap will prepare a set of bills to promote its initiatives on the legal level.

Related: Ukrainian art museum to preserve art and cultural heritage through NFT auction

In June, Ukraine became the third country outside the European Union to join the European Blockchain Partnership, an initiative derived by the 27 member states to deliver cross-border public services. Back then, VAU CEO Konstantin Ermolenko revealed Ukraine’s interest in running test-node of the EBSI and pilot use cases of the cross-border public services based on blockchain technology.

In March 2022,President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the first major Ukrainian cryptocurrency-related legislation known as the bill “On Virtual Assets.” The bill establishes the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine as two major regulators on the crypto market.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has managed to gather over $100 million in cryptocurrency donations through its government-curated Crypto Fund of Ukraine.

Bitcoin Primed for Next Vertical Leg As ‘Mass Attention’ Approaches, Says Crypto Analyst