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Visa and Mastercard may attempt to re-enter the Russian market, according to Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets. Speaking to Tass, Aksakov stated that the global payment giants could seek a return due to the loss of a significant market. However, he noted that their comeback would not be straightforward, as Russia has already integrated alternative financial systems. He explained: I believe they would soon return and offer their services, because they have lost a large market and will try to re-enter it. The two payment giants suspended their operations in Russia in March 2022 following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision was part of broader Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia from the global financial system. As a result, Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard cards stopped working for international transactions, forcing the country to accelerate the adoption of its own payment system, Mir. The departure of Visa and Mastercard led to a significant shift in Russia’s financial landscape, with domestic banks and businesses adapting to alternative solutions, including partnerships with China’s Unionpay and cryptocurrency-based payment methods. Aksakov noted that despite Russia’s national payment system, Visa and Mastercard are still necessary for international transactions, particularly to Europe and the U.S., as global networks remain essential for cross-border payments. However, he stressed that their return would not be smooth, stating: Their entry into the Russian market will not be easy, because we are already used to rely on our payment system. Since the companies exited Russia, the country has strengthened its own financial infrastructure, and their re-entry would likely face regulatory hurdles and competition from emerging payment alternatives. 免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。

Russia is close to starting trials for cryptocurrency exchanges and digital token payments for cross-border transactions, Bloomberg reported Monday. The trials, which are set to begin on Sept. 1, aim to alleviate payment difficulties for Russian companies impacted by international sanctions, according to sources familiar with the matter. The trials will use the National Payment Card System to facilitate conversions between rubles and cryptocurrencies and to test payment and exchange platforms. Established by the central bank in 2014, this system, which already oversees domestic interbank payments and Mir cards, was chosen for its existing infrastructure and regulatory framework. In July, the Russian parliament passed legislation to legalize crypto mining and establish a framework for experimenting with digital tokens for cross-border transactions under central bank supervision. President Vladimir Putin signed these bills into law on Aug. 8. This move to explore cryptocurrency options comes as Russian businesses face increasing challenges in making and receiving payments for overseas transactions due to heightened sanctions from the U.S. government.

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a search operation against the founders of Emoillent Coin, a fraudulent cryptocurrency that lured investors with promises of substantial returns. Local media reports indicate that 2,508 investors in India lost a combined total of ₹73,436,267 (approximately $890,000) in their quest to capitalize on the cryptocurrency boom. The dubious coin, marketed as “Emollient Coin Limited,” attracted users by offering up to 40% returns for locking their investments over ten months. Additionally, a multi-level referral scheme promised up to 7% commissions for recruiting new investors, a common tactic in pyramid schemes. Such referral schemes typically involve continuous recruitment under the guise of investing in a promising, yet non-existent project. Once a significant number of participants are onboard, the scammers vanish with the funds. Emoillent Coin’s perpetrators operated via a mobile application, soliciting funds through bank transfers, cryptocurrency exchanges, and direct cash payments. They capitalized on Bitcoin’s popularity to persuade users into investing. Emollient Coin Limited, which maintained a local office but falsely claimed a London base, was led by Henry Maxwell. Active from 2017 to 2019, the scam ended with the deliberate dissolution of the fraudulent company, leaving investors with substantial losses. The ED alleges the scammers used the stolen funds to acquire land assets. Prompted by multiple complaints filed in 2020 with the Additional District Magistrate in Leh, a northern Indian town where the scam was centered, the ED launched a search operation. The accused — A R Mir, Ajay Kumar Choudhary, and two other promoters — face charges of defrauding numerous individuals. Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED has seized offices and assets linked to the scheme.

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has executed its inaugural raid in the Leh Ladakh region to investigate fraudulent cryptocurrency activities under the Public Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The operation targeted six locations across Leh in Ladakh, Jammu in J-K, and Sonipat in Haryana, focusing on A. R. Mir and his associates. Allegations suggest thousands of investors were defrauded through a fake cryptocurrency named “Emollient Coin,” with no currency or returns provided. An FIR from March 2020 was filed against A. R. Mir and Ajay Kumar Choudhary, accusing them of running the fraudulent scheme from their Leh office near SNM Hospital. The office has been sealed, and complaints from various regions have been noted. Emollient Coin Ltd. was established in September 2017 in London, and promoted in India by Naresh Gullia and Channi Singh. The investigation revealed Mir and Choudhary used funds from the scam to invest in real estate in Jammu.