Russia’s AI Censorship to Disrupt Crypto Access in 2026

• Russia plans to use AI technology to block access to restricted websites, including crypto platforms.
• The measures could destabilize connectivity for users relying on global exchanges and mining pools.

In a move that could significantly impact cryptocurrency users, Russia is deploying artificial intelligence systems to enhance internet censorship. On January 20, 2026, it was reported that Roskomnadzor, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media, has allocated over 2 billion rubles (about $29 million) to develop AI-powered tools. These technologies aim to analyze and block access to restricted websites, including foreign-based cryptocurrency platforms.

This initiative underscores Roskomnadzor's ongoing efforts to tighten online content controls. In 2025 alone, the agency blocked approximately 260 VPN services and over 1.2 million websites. Experts caution that AI could significantly improve the detection of mirror domains and circumvention methods, making it increasingly difficult for cryptocurrency users to access international platforms without disruptions.

The potential repercussions of these measures extend across Russia's crypto ecosystem. Analysts predict disruptions in access to foreign cryptocurrency exchanges, mining pools, and educational or informational resources. This crackdown appears aligned with intensified regulatory scrutiny on foreign platforms that store personal data of Russian citizens in regions such as the U.S. and the EU. Non-compliant platforms may encounter heightened operational hurdles in Russia, including demands for local licensing or data protection adherence.

While Russia is moving to legalize certain domestic cryptocurrency activities, these censorship efforts mark a contrasting approach to foreign platforms. The government legalized crypto mining in 2024 and is drafting frameworks for supporting domestic crypto services. New rules cap annual investments for non-qualified investors at 300,000 rubles (around $3,800), aiming to centralize control while limiting financial risks.

Russia’s push to block foreign platforms while creating a regulated domestic market highlights a strategy focused on localized control of the crypto space. For ordinary Russians who depend on international exchanges, these restrictions are likely to obstruct access to the global cryptocurrency infrastructure, even as local regulations offer limited legalization.