Russia Unblocks BestChange: Crypto Traders Score Regulatory Victory

Moscow finally blinks—after years of suffocating restrictions, Russian authorities quietly lifted the ban on BestChange, the country’s most popular crypto exchange aggregator.

Why it matters: Traders can now bypass bureaucratic hell to compare real-time rates across 300+ exchanges again. No more VPN roulette or sketchy P2P deals.

The cynical take: A rare win for crypto liquidity in Russia—just as the central bank launches its own doomed CBDC pilot. Coincidence? Probably not.

TLDR

• Russia has lifted the ban on BestChange, a popular cryptocurrency exchange aggregator.
• The Central Bank of Russia approved the unblocking after BestChange made necessary content adjustments.
• BestChange had faced multiple blockings in the past, but legal efforts successfully overturned the bans.
• The platform removed certain exchange listings to comply with the Bank of Russia’s regulations.
• The unblocking is a significant shift in Russia’s approach to cryptocurrency platforms and services.

Russian authorities have lifted the ban on BestChange, a leading cryptocurrency exchange data provider. This decision follows several months of restrictions and comes after the platform made significant changes to its operations. The Bank of Russia confirmed the unblocking, which marks a shift in the regulatory approach to cryptocurrency services.

BestChange administrators revealed the news, citing a letter from the Central Bank of Russia (CBR). The Bank of Russia’s Information Security Department initiated the move. Roskomnadzor, the Russian telecom watchdog, blocked access to BestChange in April 2025.

A History of Bans and Restrictions

BestChange had faced multiple blockings in the past, with the most recent occurring in April 2025. Roskomnadzor, the federal service responsible for media supervision, had restricted access to the website, citing concerns over illegal banking activities. However, this was not the first time the platform faced such restrictions.

Russian authorities have targeted the platform several times, including in 2017, 2019, and 2020. Each time, BestChange appealed the decisions and successfully overturned the bans. This time, however, the platform adjusted its content to comply with the Bank of Russia’s guidelines.

BestChange Adjusts Listings to Meet Regulations

To regain access, BestChange agreed to remove certain features that could potentially violate Russian laws. The Bank of Russia specifically requested the removal of information related to ruble-based foreign currency exchanges. The platform also restricted listings for foreign payment systems and certain international currencies, like the Kazakhstani tenge.

According to Nikita Zuborev, a senior analyst at BestChange, these adjustments delayed the unblocking process.

“The requirement was initially unclear, and removing ruble exchange directions was not sufficient,” he explained.

BestChange worked closely with legal experts to address the central bank’s concerns.

The Unblocking Process and Future Plans

Once the Central Bank of Russia confirmed that BestChange had met its demands, the platform received approval to unblock it. The Bank of Russia’s final step involves notifying Roskomnadzor to remove the website from its list of restricted sites. This will restore Russian users’ access to the website.

BestChange representatives expressed gratitude to the legal team for their efforts to overturn the ban. Zuborev remained optimistic that these regulatory challenges would not affect the platform’s global operations. He assured users that cryptocurrency aggregation services would continue without restriction in other jurisdictions.

The lifting of the ban on BestChange comes amid ongoing legislative changes targeting cryptocurrency traders in Russia. New laws focus on individuals who exchange digital currencies and fiat currencies on a peer-to-peer basis. These measures include the potential freezing of bank accounts and blocking transactions.

As Russia faces increasing sanctions related to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the government has tightened control over financial transactions. Despite these challenges, the cryptocurrency market remains a popular option for users seeking alternative economic solutions.