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Thomas Rowley

Thomas Rowley is a journalist based in London. His investigations have been featured by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Finance Uncovered, and Reporter.London. He was previously the lead editor for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the international affairs website openDemocracy.

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A view of the Moscow International Business Center, known as Moscow-City, in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 6, 2025

Russia's defense giant quietly launches new cryptocurrency despite EU sanctions

by Thomas Rowley
A cryptocurrency associated with Russia's sprawling state defense corporation has quietly launched just as the European Union targets Russian crypto markets with further sanctions. Blockchain data reviewed by Kyiv Independent suggests that ruble token RubX, announced by Rostec last year, soft-launched on July 17. RubX later started offering swaps to the widely accepted dollar stablecoin Tether via Telegram on July 24. Cryptocurrencies have emerged as a key conduit for Russian importers to make