The effect of the war in Ukraine on the use of cryptocurrencies
Since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the various currencies have been particularly affected, the ruble has collapsed, but bitcoin has benefited.
(Illustrative image) REUTERS - DADO RUVIC
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The use of cryptocurrencies is directly impacted by the war in Ukraine.
Since the start of the Russian invasion, the various currencies have been particularly affected, the ruble has collapsed, but bitcoin has benefited.
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Faced with the
war in Ukraine
, the volumes of
cryptocurrencies
have thus exploded, as Nathalie Janson, research professor at Neoma Business school recalls: "
From Thursday onwards, we observed movements in Ukraine, particularly very strong, since in order to to be able to stabilize the Ukrainian currency, there were possibilities of capital control.
And so without much surprise, indeed, there has been a lot of movement in bitcoin.
Being a decentralized currency and escaping any government control, it is by definition a currency that is very geopolitical.
»
As soon as there is a geopolitical risk, its demand increases.
This exchange is made directly between two computers, explains the teacher-researcher: “
They are not exposed to disorganization and restrictions.
So, when you look at the history of bitcoin, yes, it was used a lot in Argentina, in Venezuela.
That is to say in all the countries where we have these restrictions and these capital controls.
»
Bitcoin as a way to circumvent economic sanctions
Could bitcoin be used by
Russia
and the oligarchs to circumvent
economic sanctions
?
Outside government control, cryptocurrencies could effectively represent a way to avoid sanctions, replacing the Swift system according to Nathalie Janson.
“
Bitcoin replaces, to some extent, the Swift system.
It is an alternative payment system.
Swift itself does not allow payment, but it does issue payment orders.
So the order is given and received, on one side.
In fact, bitcoin simplifies this system, since in fact it just allows the two people who make a transaction to finalize it directly between them.
»
When making bitcoin transactions, even if they are actually recorded in what are called open registers, the transactions take place between accounts which are identified by a series of letters and numbers.
So we don't know the name, exactly, of who is behind the accounts.
"
It's true that in Russia, anyway, it's a way to get around the restrictions, to be able to use bitcoin, that's for sure
," says this research professor at Neoma Business School.
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To listen: The craze around cryptocurrencies, a phenomenon that is here to stay
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