Russia to Let Banks Handle Crypto Under Strict Rules; 20M Russians Already Use It

Russia is moving closer to formally integrating crypto into its financial system, as officials acknowledge widespread adoption and the central bank prepares to let banks handle digital assets under tight controls. According to a report by TASS, Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov said around 20 million Russians now use cryptocurrencies “for various purposes,” describing them…

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Volatility Creeps Higher as Seasonal Strength Kicks In

Bitcoin’s BTC$113,244.11 implied volatility (IV) gauge has climbed to a 2.5-month high, consistent with the seasonal trends. Volmex’s bitcoin implied volatility index, BVIV, which represents the annualized expected price turbulence over four weeks, has topped 42%, the highest since late August, according to data source TradingView. IV measures the market’s expectations for future price swings…

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Ripple Expands Into Bahrain Through Partnership

Ripple is expanding its Middle East footprint through a new partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay, the Kingdom’s main fintech incubator and ecosystem platform, as part of its push to integrate blockchain and stablecoin infrastructure into regulated financial markets. The move builds on Ripple’s Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) license obtained earlier this year and underscores…

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