"Russian Central Bank Reports on Bitcoin Investment Returns"

# Bitcoin Outpaces Traditional Assets in Russian Central Bank's Investment Report According to Cryptopolitan on the 15th (local time), Bitcoin (BTC) has taken a prominent place in a recent investment return analysis by the Russian Central Bank (CBR). The report underscores Bitcoin’s remarkable performance over the past year, outstripping the returns of gold, stocks, and bank deposits, establishing itself as the most profitable asset. The CBR has highlighted Bitcoin as a crucial investment asset in its latest "Comprehensive Report on Financial Market Risks." Over the past 12 months, Bitcoin posted an impressive yield of 38%, outpacing gold (26.3%), ruble-based deposits (16%), and the S&P 500 TR Index which fell by -0.4%. During the same period, inflation in Russia averaged 10.3%. In comparison, major foreign currency deposits showed negative returns. U.S. dollar deposits saw -7.7%, Chinese yuan deposits -10.9%, and euro deposits -2.1%. Particularly affected were stocks in the construction and information technology (IT) sectors, which experienced losses exceeding 40%. # Bitcoin Dominates Long-Term Investment Returns The CBR's data further highlights Bitcoin’s superiority as a long-term investment. Since 2022, Bitcoin has achieved a staggering 121.3% return, significantly outpacing all other investment options except gold, which yielded 97.6%. Over the same period, the Russian ruble experienced an inflation rate of 35.9%, while ruble-based deposits posted a modest return of 35.4%. Although Bitcoin’s returns dipped by 18.6% in early 2025, it made a notable comeback with an 11.2% increase by April, securing the highest returns among the assets surveyed. In contrast, gold's returns were minimal at 0.7%, while euro and dollar deposits suffered significant declines of -11.9% and -19.4%, respectively. # Russia’s Ambiguous Stance on Cryptocurrencies Despite recognizing Bitcoin’s profitability in its report, the Russian government remains cautious about fully embracing cryptocurrencies as financial investment tools. The central bank still resists allowing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to freely circulate within the Russian economy. In March, the central bank proposed a legal framework to test cross-border payment systems using digital currencies. Concurrently, discussions centered around allowing cryptocurrency investments exclusively for "highly qualified" individual investors. To qualify, investors must demonstrate ownership of securities or deposits worth over 100 million rubles (approximately $1.25 million) or show an annual income exceeding 50 million rubles (around $625,000) from the previous year. Additionally, the CBR’s report reveals that Russian citizens’ cryptocurrency investments have tripled over the last three years. Meanwhile, investments in precious metals like gold and silver have increased sixfold, indicating a significant shift in investor behavior. Industry experts believe this shift may intensify discussions about the role of cryptocurrencies in the Russian financial landscape, although institutional resistance remains strong.