Russia Embraces Crypto for Oil Trade with China and India as Global Sanctions Persist

• Russia is reportedly using cryptocurrencies for oil trade with China and India, according to four anonymous sources who declined to be identified due to the issue’s sensitivity.
• This move comes in response to escalating sanctions that limit access to international banking systems and efforts to reduce reliance on the dollar.

As Western sanctions continue to pressure Russia’s economy, the nation is increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies to facilitate oil trade with major partners like China and India. In a move to bypass conventional financial channels, Russia began utilizing digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT) to conduct oil transactions.

The process involves converting Chinese yuan and Indian rupees into cryptocurrencies, which are then transferred to Russia and exchanged for rubles. This method allows Russian oil exporters to circumvent Western-controlled financial systems and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.

While the use of crypto in the oil trade still represents a minor fraction of Russia’s $192 billion oil industry, it is rapidly gaining traction as a viable alternative to traditional payment systems. Russia’s shift toward cryptocurrency-based transactions comes at a time when India’s oil consumption growth is expected to surpass China’s by 2025. Forecasts suggest that India will account for 25% of total global oil consumption growth, making it a key energy market.

In January 2025, the U.S. Treasury escalated pressure on Russia’s energy sector by imposing sanctions on two major Russian oil producers and blacklisting 183 vessels, primarily oil tankers transporting Russian crude. By February, Indian refiners had begun increasing imports from Latin America and Africa while anticipating further disruptions in Russian oil supplies. 

Meanwhile, Chinese state-owned oil companies reacted cautiously, wary of the increasing scrutiny of Russian crude transactions. By March, major Chinese firms such as Sinopec and Zhenhua Oil had scaled back their imports of Russian oil, citing compliance concerns related to the latest U.S. sanctions.

Legislative Support for Cryptocurrency Use

Discussions are ongoing within the BRICS nations regarding the development of a “BRICS Bridge” payment system. This system, involving Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, seeks to create an alternative financial infrastructure that enhances economic cooperation among member states.

Brazil, which assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, is set to host the annual summit in Rio de Janeiro this July. A key item in the agenda will be discussions on the blockchain-based payment system that will be designed to simplify cross-border transactions.

As part of this shift, we recently reported that Russia has introduced a pilot program using gold-backed digital assets for international transactions. These digital tokens, which can be purchased with rubles, are set for repayment in May 2025. 

However, the move away from the U.S. dollar has not gone unnoticed. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the BRICS bloc, threatening to impose 100% tariffs on member nations if they abandon the dollar in favor of alternative payment systems.