BestChange Unrestricted as Top Crypto Aggregator Returns to Russia

Russian Authorities Lift Restrictions on BestChange

Russian authorities have taken a significant step in unblocking BestChange, a well-known cryptocurrency exchange data provider that serves the Russian-speaking market. This decision, made by the Bank of Russia, marks a reversal of previous actions that had restricted access to the platform and required it to remove certain features for users in the country.

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has officially informed BestChange that its domains will be unblocked, according to an announcement from the site’s administrators. The news was shared through a letter from the CBR, as reported by RBC, a business news outlet. This move comes after the Information Security Department of the monetary authority initiated the process, roughly three months after the country's telecom regulator ordered internet service providers to block the website and all related domains.

In April 2025, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media — commonly known as Roskomnadzor (RKN) — imposed restrictions on BestChange’s website. This wasn’t the first time the platform had been targeted; the media censor had previously blocked the crypto service in 2017, 2019, and 2020. More recently, in February of this year, BestChange was briefly blacklisted again.

Despite these challenges, BestChange has consistently fought back through legal means. In each instance, the platform’s lawyers successfully overturned the restrictions. The latest unblocking came after the company made changes to the content visible to Russian users, addressing concerns raised by the Bank of Russia.

Adjustments Required for Full Unblocking

To ensure the full restoration of access, BestChange had to implement specific changes. According to Nikita Zuborev, a senior analyst at BestChange, the platform had to restrict access for Russian users to certain entries that could be flagged as illegal banking activity. The Bank of Russia requested the removal of information related to the purchase and sale of foreign currency using Russian rubles, as well as pairs involving foreign payment systems like Alipay and bank accounts in other countries' fiat currencies, such as the Kazakhstani tenge.

Zuborev explained that meeting these requirements delayed the unblocking process. However, on Wednesday, the central bank confirmed that it was satisfied with the modifications and would proceed with restoring access to the website. A representative of BestChange told RBC:

“This was associated with a certain delay in the unblocking process, since the requirement was initially not transparent enough, and removing ruble exchange directions on our part was not enough.”

While the central bank has communicated its decision, the formal process still needs to be completed. The Bank of Russia must officially inform Roskomnadzor of its decision, and the latter must remove the aggregator from its registry of restricted websites. This action is necessary for internet providers across the country to lift the block.

Legal Efforts and Ongoing Challenges

Nikita Zuborev expressed gratitude to BestChange’s legal team for their efforts in achieving this outcome. He stated:

“We are grateful to the lawyers who were able to achieve justice and unblock the site, albeit under such compromise conditions.”

Zuborev also emphasized that the Russian restrictions do not affect information about cryptocurrency transactions involving rubles and are not applicable to users in other jurisdictions. He assured that the site will continue to provide aggregation services globally.

However, Russia is increasingly targeting cryptocurrency traders through recent legislative amendments. These measures threaten individuals exchanging digital currencies and fiat on a peer-to-peer basis, including blocking transactions and freezing bank accounts.

Amid sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has also attempted to limit operations involving hard currency and capital flight. A recent report indicated that travel restrictions on foreign fiat and cash do not apply to cryptocurrencies, which came as a relief for crypto users.