The statement by the chairman of the State Duma committee on the financial market Anatoly Aksakov regarding the role of cryptocurrencies in the Russian economy has caused significant resonance in the professional community. The politician expressed a firm position, according to which digital assets cannot perform the function of money within the country.
Such a formulation immediately drew criticism and ironic comments from representatives of the crypto community.
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What exactly did Akcakov say
During a press conference at TASS, Anatoly Akcakov made it clear that cryptocurrencies have no place in the system of internal settlements. In his opinion, digital assets cannot be regarded as a means of payment on the territory of Russia, neither under current conditions nor in the foreseeable future.
He emphasized that payments for goods and services within the country should be conducted exclusively in rubles. Cryptocurrencies in this model are considered only as instruments for investments and operations of an investment nature, without the function of a daily means of payment.
Such a position continues the line of the Bank of Russia. The regulator has also previously pointed to the inadmissibility of using cryptocurrencies in internal settlements, while simultaneously reminding of the experimental legal regime in effect that allows their use in foreign economic activities.
How the crypto community reacted
Akcakov's statements did not go unnoticed. Many representatives of the crypto industry commented on the politician's statements.
Elina Siderenko, a member of the Council under the President for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, head of the ANO "White Internet", and a professor at MGIMO reacted ironically. She noted that Akcakov's forecasts are rarely confirmed in practice, but added that in the current situation, she is ready to agree with his conclusions without going into details.
CEO Exved Sergey Mendeleev pointed out the gap between official rhetoric and real experience. He reminded that back in 2017, he was able to officially pay with bitcoin at "Lavka.Lavka". To prove this, he claimed to have a receipt. In 2018, as Sergey Mendeleev asserts, he managed to purchase a car at a dealership for USDT, albeit outside the formal legal framework.
"Can we roll back everything according to the Dolina scheme?" the businessman ironically suggested.
Russians, apparently, are not ready to completely abandon payments in crypto. Many are not deterred by regulatory bans. Therefore, offers to sell something for crypto can even be found on Avito.
The situation around Akcakov's words has once again highlighted the gap between the normative position of the state and the actual practice of cryptocurrency use in Russia. The strict official line contradicts the examples that have already become part of market history.
Criticism from the crypto community reflects not a dispute over wording, but a fatigue from repeated statements that do not take into account the development of technologies and established user experience. The role of cryptocurrencies in the Russian economy remains a subject of discussion even in the presence of an extremely unambiguous position from regulators.
Recall that earlier BeInCrypto reported that Russia entered the top 35 countries in terms of cryptocurrency adoption.
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