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The minister's comment comes the day after President Vladimir
Putin discussed the issue with Siluanov, Central Bank Governor
Elvira Nabiullina, presidential economic aide Andrey Belousov,
and Sergei Solonin, the head of online payment company Qiwi.
Putin said on Tuesday crypto-currencies were risky and used for
crime. Russia's central bank has said it would block websites
selling bitcoin and its rivals to households.
"The president has spoken of the problems related to
crypto-currencies. These are difficulties regarding ... money
laundering and cases that are related to identification issues,"
TASS quoted Siluanov as saying.
"That's why we have agreed that the state should regulate the
issuing of crypto-currencies, their mining and turnover. The
state should take all this under control," Siluanov said.
Siluanov's comments echoed his earlier calls to regulate the
market for virtual currencies. Siluanov, however, has not
elaborated yet on how his ministry sees regulation of the
crypto-currencies market.
Bitcoin, the most well-known virtual currency that emerged in
mid-2010, is increasingly popular worldwide and in Russia as it
promises substantial profits. One bitcoin last traded at around
$4,811 <BTC=BTSP>, up from its initial price of less than $1.
(Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
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