Just another quote with no context. Quite common on media, sad to see crypto media going the same way.
The complete citation is:
"Virtual [currencies] or cryptocurrencies are becoming and have already become more popular. They have already become or are turning into a full-fledged payment instrument and an investment asset in certain countries. At the same time, use of cryptocurrencies also carries serious risks."
Of course with no knowledge about the meeting wouldn't be hard to misunderstand his words
Thank you for pointing this out. Putin/Russia is currently one of the most vilified and misunderstood entities in the mainstream media, at least here in the USA. The level of anti-Russian propaganda and fearmongering has become truly ridiculous in certain quarters, so it is always a good idea to take media reports about Russian activity with a grain (or more) of salt, at least until proper context and confirmation can be found.