Federal authorities in Russia intend to extend an existing multi-region ban on crypto mining to the southern areas of Buryatia and Transbaikal starting next year, replacing their current seasonal restrictions. The move follows a winter halt in these territories and earlier bans in parts of Irkutsk, as officials seek to ease power shortages linked to both legal and illegal mining operations.

On December 13, 2025, Invest in Latvia reported that nearly 130 fintech companies in the country generate close to €400 million in yearly turnover and pay more than €91 million in taxes while employing over 3,600 people. At the same time, Latvia’s central bank confirmed that BlockBen and Nexdesk have received the nation’s first MiCA licenses, as officials move to position Latvia as a key European entry point for regulated crypto and Web3 businesses.

On December 12, 2025, Belarus reinstated access to major cryptocurrency exchanges including Bybit, Bitget, BingX and OKX after briefly blocking their websites over what authorities described as inappropriate advertising. The move allows local users to reach their accounts again without relying on VPNs, while officials indicated that access would be restored once alleged violations were removed and reaffirmed the country's broader push for a regulated digital asset framework.

Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, said cryptocurrency mining has become a significant but undervalued export sector for Russia that directly impacts the national currency market. He emphasized that mining-related financial flows should be incorporated into the country's balance of payments to improve ruble exchange rate forecasts. Oreshkin made the remarks at the "Russia Calling!" international investment forum in Moscow this week.

Kazakhstan's central bank has designated up to $300 million from its gold and foreign exchange reserves for cryptocurrency investments, Governor Timur Suleimenov said November 29, 2025. The actual allocation could range from $50 million to $250 million, depending on market conditions following recent volatility that saw Bitcoin drop 17% before recovering. The bank will wait for market stabilization before executing purchases.

Uzbekistan will introduce a regulatory sandbox enabling stablecoin use in payments from January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced. The Central Asian nation will also permit domestic firms to issue tokenized stocks and bonds under the new framework. Authorities will establish a $50 million venture fund to support fintech development.

Russian authorities have reimposed a cryptocurrency mining ban in the Republic of Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai from November 15, 2025, through March 15, 2026. The seasonal restriction targets electricity shortages during peak winter consumption in these Siberian regions. The measure follows a government decree issued in December 2024, according to RIA Novosti.

Kazakhstan will establish a national cryptocurrency reserve holding $500 million to $1 billion in digital assets by January 2026. The fund will comprise confiscated cryptocurrencies, crypto ETFs, and equity stakes in blockchain companies, according to National Bank of Kazakhstan Chairman Timur Suleimenov. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the reserve's creation in September 2025 as part of efforts to liberalize the domestic cryptocurrency market.