Deep Tide TechFlow News, April 22, According to The Block, the Russian State Duma has passed a cryptocurrency regulation bill in a first reading, aiming to classify cryptocurrencies as "property," designate the Central Bank of Russia as responsible for licensing and supervising market participants, and introduce a tiered access mechanism for qualified and non-qualified investors. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies for domestic payments, with the ruble remaining the only legal settlement currency, but allows Russian companies to use cryptocurrencies for cross-border trade settlements with foreign counterparts to bypass sanctions restrictions. The bill still needs to go through second and third readings and be reviewed by the Federation Council before being signed by the president. If officially approved, it is expected to take effect on July 1, 2026.