The weekly bitcoin-ruble trading volume on the LocalBitcoins exchange has exceeded 215.5 mln rubles ($3.3 mln). This hits the previous historic high reported on 2 August.

The statistics from coin.dance based on the data from LocalBitcoins shows that bitcoin trade volume in Russia continues its steady upward trend.

In the last week of July, the Russia’s trading volume on LocalBitcoins was registered at 193.5 mln rubles. It had increased by 7% over a month and nearly threefold since the beginning of the year.

The rising enthusiasm about the cryptocurrency in Russia is indicated by the first physical bitcoin-for-rubles exchange point opened in Moscow city centre last week. It coincides with the apparent change of attitude of Russian financial authorities towards cryptocurrencies.

In June, Russian Minister of Finance remarked that in its legal status bitcoin may be equated to foreign currency while on 12 August, the Prosecutor General and the Ministry of Justice stated that introduction of criminal penalties for bitcoin usage does not have sufficient grounds (this intention had been announced more than once). Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Russia and Central Office of the Government agreed with the statement.

Lyudmila Brus