Belarus cryptobanks prepare to support Bitcoin, Toncoin, Tether, and 23 other coins
Belarus has published rules allowing licensed “cryptobanks” to handle 26 preapproved digital currencies, enabling banks that combine traditional and exchange functions to process fiat and crypto transactions. The list covers major coins (including Bitcoin and Ethereum), leading altcoins (Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, BNB) and stablecoins (USDT, USDC). The move follows Decree No. 19 and places the sector under the High‑Tech Park and central bank oversight; cryptobanks may offer deposits, transfers, borrowing, staking, custody and token issuance. The regulator said the whitelist can be adjusted based on volatility and market capitalization. Market impact: the decision expands regulated on‑ramps in Belarus, likely supporting local liquidity and adoption for the approved tokens (notably BTC and TON, the latter already saw price gains on related news). It’s a regulatory-positive development for listed crypto assets in the region, while omitted privacy coins (e.g., ZEC, XMR) may face constrained access.