Russa legalize cryptocurrencies in 2020 but banned their use as a means of payment.
Opposition and media funding accounts for an insignificant fraction of crypto use in Russia but the security services are worried that it is a growing problem, they said.
When they're going to learn that they can't actually ban it
[with the exception of CBDCs and certain stablecoins] from being used by their citizens!
The Bank of Russia said crypto mining created problems for energy consumption as Russia is one of the largest crypto-miner in the world. Meanwhile, The central bank is planning to issue its own digital rouble.
In other words, the former is being used as an excuse for the latter part! They only care about having full control over their citizens...