India has reportedly acquired dozens of Belarus-made Berkut-BM one-way attack drones, according to defense industry sources. The Berkut-BM is a jet-powered kamikaze drone developed by the Indela company in Belarus and designed to strike time-sensitive battlefield targets before they can relocate. The system is powered by compact Chinese-made micro turbojet engines produced by Swiwin, giving the […]Belarus took a major step on January 16, 2026, when President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No. 19 to set rules for so-called “cryptobanks.” The move creates a clear legal spot for companies that want to mix token services with classic banking and payment work.
According to the decree, a cryptobank is a joint-stock company that may carry out token operations alongside banking, payment and other financial services.
Reports have disclosed that these firms must be residents of the Belarus High-Tech Park (HTP) and will be listed in a special register kept by the National Bank.
The new document ties cryptobank status to HTP residency, which aims to concentrate activity inside a known tech zone. That requirement also means the HTP’s rules will play a role in daily oversight.
Based on reports from regulators, cryptobanks will face dual supervision: oversight from both the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and the HTP’s governing bodies. This twin structure is meant to let token services grow while keeping closer control of financial risks.
Officials say cryptobanks will follow many of the rules that apply to non-bank credit and financial organizations, including standards for capital, risk controls and anti-money-laundering checks.
That suggests applicants will need to show robust compliance systems before being accepted into the register.
National Bank officials said that the decree could be followed by real market steps fast. Aliaksandr Yahorau, the First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank, said Belarus could see its first operating cryptobank within six months after laws and rules are aligned.
He added that cryptobanks may be able to issue loans secured by cryptocurrency, provide payment cards linked to crypto accounts, and allow self-employed people to receive salaries in tokens.
What Comes Next For BelarusThe decree builds on earlier efforts to attract tech and crypto business to Belarus, and it clearly signals a state interest in bringing token activity under formal control.
The next steps will include drafting implementing rules, creating the special registry at the National Bank, and deciding capital and licensing thresholds for applicants.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin Magazine
Belarus Creates Legal Framework for Bitcoin and Crypto Banks in New Decree
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed Decree No. 19 “On Cryptobanks and Certain Issues of Control in the Field of Digital Tokens,” officially creating a legal framework for bitcoin and crypto banks in the country.
The decree makes Belarus a hub for financial technology innovation while providing a regulated path for cryptocurrency services.
Under the new law, a crypto bank is defined as a joint-stock company that is a resident of Belarus’ High-Tech Park (HTP) and included in a registry maintained by the National Bank of Belarus.
These institutions can offer both traditional banking services — such as deposits, loans, and transfers — and activities involving digital tokens, creating a hybrid financial model that blends fiat and crypto operations.
Only firms registered with the HTP and listed in the National Bank’s crypto bank registry will be eligible to operate. Crypto banks will not be full commercial banks but will function as non-bank financial institutions, subject to dual regulation.
This means they must comply with rules for non-bank credit and financial institutions, including capital adequacy, risk management, anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) obligations, as well as consumer protection standards.
They are also required to follow decisions made by the HTP Supervisory Board.
The decree is part of Belarus’ broader push to integrate digital finance with traditional banking infrastructure. “Dual regulation will allow a crypto bank to offer clients innovative financial products that combine the advantages of traditional banking operations with the technological efficiency, speed, and convenience of digital token transactions,” the presidential website noted.
JUST IN: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signs decree to allow for the creation of "crypto banks" in the country
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 16, 2026
Belarus has a history of early adoption of crypto regulations. A 2017 decree established tax-free conditions for cryptocurrency mining and trading, eliminating the need for individuals to declare crypto income.
In recent years, Lukashenko has also promoted virtual payment systems and bitcoin mining projects, including using surplus electricity to power mining farms in the Mogilev region.
The country is expected to launch its digital ruble in full-scale operation in the second half of 2026.
For local users and businesses, the new framework could ease access to hybrid financial products that link fiat and digital currencies. By enabling smoother and faster settlement, crypto banks may reduce friction when moving between traditional and crypto-based transactions. The decree also provides clear regulatory boundaries, ensuring that crypto operations remain fully backed by fiat and subject to oversight.
Globally, Belarus’ move aligns with trends toward on-chain finance and tokenized assets, as banks and financial institutions explore blockchain technology for payments, trading, and asset management.
Just yesterday, Belgium’s KBC Group said they will become the first local bank to let retail clients trade crypto, starting February 16 via its Bolero platform under EU’s MiCAR rules.
Initially offering Bitcoin and Ether on an execution-only basis, clients must pass a risk-awareness test before trading.
This post Belarus Creates Legal Framework for Bitcoin and Crypto Banks in New Decree first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.
Belarus is moving digital assets closer to the core of its financial system after introducing a legal framework for “cryptobanks”.
Instead of treating crypto as a separate industry, the country is building a model where token-related services sit inside existing banking structures and are supervised by the state.
On Friday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 19, which defines how cryptobanks can operate and what conditions they must meet to enter the market.
The move gives Belarus a regulated route for crypto-linked banking, while tightening the boundaries around who is allowed to provide these services.
Under the decree, cryptobanks are defined as joint-stock companies that can combine token-based activity with traditional banking functions.
This includes banking services, payments, and related financial services, but now within a formal legal structure.
Rather than creating a parallel “crypto sector”, Belarus is linking digital asset operations to the same financial oversight mechanisms and infrastructure that already govern mainstream institutions.
That approach signals an effort to keep crypto activity within a controlled and traceable system.
Cryptobanks will not be open to every player. The framework limits participation to firms that agree to operate strictly within the country’s regulatory requirements.
A key part of the new framework is the Hi-Tech Park, a state-backed technology zone that already plays a major role in Belarus’s digital economy strategy.
Under the decree, a cryptobank must obtain resident status in the Hi-Tech Park before entering the market.
On top of this, cryptobanks must be added to a dedicated register that will be maintained by the country’s central bank.
This structure effectively places market access behind formal approvals, ensuring the state can monitor who is active and under what rules they are operating.
Belarus is applying a layered supervision model to cryptobanks, with requirements that stretch beyond standard financial compliance.
According to the decree, cryptobanks must follow rules applied to non-bank credit and financial institutions.
They also have to implement decisions issued by the Hi-Tech Park’s supervisory board.
This sets up dual oversight that combines financial regulation with technological supervision.
Officials say the approach is designed to support innovative products that mix conventional banking services with token-based transaction efficiencies.
In practical terms, it allows crypto-linked services to be delivered through licensed entities that are already embedded in the formal banking environment.
The new cryptobank rules fit into a longer policy direction where crypto is allowed only within clearly defined and state-approved boundaries.
The post Belarus establishes rules for ‘crypto banks’: check out the details appeared first on CoinJournal.
United States Army soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conducted Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunnery on Jan. 11-12 at the General Silvestras Zukauskas Training Area in Pabrade, Lithuania. The training involved live-fire exercises designed to validate crew performance and maintain readiness along NATO’s eastern flank. According to the U.S. Army, the […]Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on December 26 that equipment positioned in Belarus near the Ukrainian border is helping Russian forces guide Shahed-type drones toward targets in Ukraine’s western regions. According to Zelenskyy, this equipment enables Russian drone operators to bypass Ukraine’s interception lines and direct attacks deeper into western areas of the country, including […]Russia appears to be moving closer to deploying its nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system, also known as RS-26, on the territory of Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that, “The relocation of the Oreshnik system to the territory of Belarus is nearing completion. We understand where it will be deployed.” Zelenskyy […]
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