[Russia May Impose Fees on 'Unfriendly' Cryptocurrency Transactions to Protect Investors] Odaily Planet Daily News – Russian Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov stated that Russia might introduce fees, recommendations, and technical protection mechanisms for 'unfriendly' cryptocurrency transactions to safeguard Russian investors. During the preparation for the second reading of the cryptocurrency market regulation bill, one of the core topics is whether to allow specific digital assets (including USDT and BNB) to participate in trading. Ivan Chebeskov pointed out that the operation of such tools could pose high risks to Russian users, and additional protective measures are being considered, including economic incentives such as fees or recommendations to encourage citizens to hold other assets. Previously, the Russian Ministry of Finance had considered excluding USDT from the cryptocurrency market regulatory framework, but industry participants expressed their willingness to bear the risks of using this tool. Additionally, in the regulatory concept proposed by the Russian Central Bank last December, it was suggested that digital currencies and stablecoins be classified as foreign exchange assets, allowing them to be bought and sold but prohibiting their use for domestic payments of goods and services. Non-qualified investors may purchase the most liquid cryptocurrencies after passing specific tests, with an annual purchase limit of no more than 300,000 rubles through a single intermediary institution. (TASS)