Miners in Russia consume 2-2.5 GWh of electricity per year, Interfax reports. This is equivalent to 143 bitcoins and 170 million rubles a day, or 5.2 billion rubles a month. By 2024, the volume of mining to the current rate should grow to 200 million rubles a day. @banksta
***
The Economist: Even more striking is how much the Russian energy export machine has become less dependent on Western shipping and financial infrastructure and thus avoided sanctions. Shadow trading using the parallel system is booming. Until December, more than half of Western Russian oil was transshipped through European shipping or financial companies. Since then, this share has fallen to 36%. @banksta
***
The United States for the first time announced the transfer of assets confiscated from Russians to Ukraine. Attorney General Merrick Garland promised Kyiv $5.4 million seized from Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev. @banksta
***
Banks will be able to freeze customer transfers for up to two days. Such amendments to the law “On the National Payment System” will be considered by deputies in March. The Central Bank proposes to fight the so-called “drops”, whose accounts fraudsters use to withdraw stolen money. @banksta
***
Approximately 20 students at the University of Strasbourg in France were forced to retake an exam in person after they were caught using the chatbot ChatGPT while taking an online test, according to local newspaper Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (DNA). @banksta
***
Indian refiners have begun paying for much of the Russian oil they buy through traders in Dubai in United Arab Emirates dirhams instead of dollars, Reuters reported, citing four sources. @banksta
***
The USA withdrew oil products from Russia for Bulgaria and Croatia from sanctions. From February 5, a ceiling on prices for petroleum products will be introduced; the limit will be set at $100 and $45 per barrel for oil products trading at prices above and below the cost of crude oil. @banksta
***
Billionaire Kharitonin bought a bankrupt airport in Germany for € 20 million. We are talking about Frankfurt-Hahn Airport in the west of Germany. According to DPA, it was bought by NR Holding, which belongs to Kharitonin. Near the airport there is a racing track, which is also owned by a Russian businessman. @banksta
The “red admin” of the Wex crypto exchange was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and a fine of 500 thousand rubles. for theft of 3 billion rubles
The “red admin” of the Wex crypto exchange was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and a fine of 500...