Miners are not beggars, they are people who really can make it on their own and they give the regions a chance to develop. For example, take Karelia. There is a company that moved there, to a pretty much abandoned city. And now everyone suddenly wants to go there. Even the price of real estate has gone up there, because there are jobs where people get a decent salary, Moscow level salary — Alexander Brazhnikov, Executive Director, Russian Association of the Crypto Industry and Blockworkers (RACIB).

Mining is not trading, it is not an exchange. It requires human resources. For every megawatt of capacity that we historically introduce, there are at least two jobs. In the regions where we have presence, these are not insignificant numbers: it is education, personnel training. Russia has it all: talented young engineers, specialists, and technicians – this is the next important factor — Igor Runets, Founder, General Director, BitRiver.

If we implement blockchain in the customs service, it means trillions of roubles in additional revenue. It is already being used in China, in the United States, in Singapore, in some other countries — Oleg Evtushenko, Executive Director, Russian Technologies State Corporation.

In general, electricity consumption in the country will be lower than previously predicted, and so mining brings additional demand for electricity consumption, which was previously planned. We think that this industry definitely needs to be regulated, we hope that we will agree on all the remaining points with the Central Bank — Ivan Chebeskov, Director of the Department of Financial Policy, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

We are confident that Russia has significant potential for the development of the industry, and that there are idle, underused energy capacities in Russia. To what extent and in what locations – that is a question for the relevant agencies and ministries, but it is undeniable that they are idle. This should factor in the development of the industry — Igor Runets, Founder, General Director, BitRiver.

What the digital economy gives us is the very weapon that can and should help us in the current economic war. We have everything we need to do this. Let us do it! — Oleg Evtushenko, Executive Director, Russian Technologies State Corporation.

You can buy a Tesla with crypto or a house in the Emirates – you can do it with our own crypto. So, whose economy is going to benefit? <...> Let us work with the Central Bank to see what risks they see. If it is the inflation they are afraid of, I do not see it — Oleg Evtushenko, Executive Director, Russian Technologies State Corporation.

As for transactions within the country, we take a consolidated position with the Central Bank on this issue: we do not need to do this yet. Our only legally permitted method of payment is the rouble. The rouble is our national currency which can be – and to some extent is – controlled by the Central Bank. If there are any other instruments then this will make monetary policy very complicated — Ivan Chebeskov, Director of the Department of Financial Policy, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

The adamant position that exists in the State Duma, in the government, and in the Central Bank is that cryptocurrency cannot be a means of payment. You cannot buy anything with it in Russia. And this will continue to be supported by everyone. I think this is a basic thing that we definitely cannot deviate from — Andrey Lugovoi, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Security and Anti-Corruption.

People should be given the opportunity. We need to encourage businesses to come out [of the shadows]. We are talking about industrialists, household workers, who are at home [mining]. Otherwise, it is plain harmful, especially if we are talking about household [miners], in terms of the load on the power grid. However, from the point of view of industrialists – on the contrary, it is good power generation — Anton Tkachev, Member of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Informational Policy, Information Technology, and Communications.

This type of activity needs to exist officially. It must be an entrepreneurial activity. They should have a formal entrepreneurial and taxation category, so that people can clearly state that they are engaged in entrepreneurial activity, the rates are such and such, with such and such rules. Do you want long-term solutions? Let us negotiate, let us sign long-term contracts — Pavel Snikkars, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.

What can be done very quickly is separation of mining from the law about digital financial assets. Simply single out mining. What is mining? You take electricity, you exchange electricity for processing power, and you get a reward for that processing power. <...> You don't need to write any law on mining. You just need to make changes to the first and second parts of the Tax Code: that's eight pages. I think that our colleagues from the State Duma can get it done in one session. We can already put this money in the budget for 2023 — Denis Terekhov, General Director, Social Networks Agency.

If the whole issue of crypto regulation drags on, we have another option. The deputies of the State Duma who are part of the appropriate working group, will prepare a bill on mining and introduce it without waiting for [the regulator's response] — Andrey Lugovoi, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Security and Anti-Corruption.

I suggested that instead of the Central Bank, the Federal Tax Service becomes the regulator. We believe, and court practice proves it, that today cryptocurrency is property. What does the Central Bank have to do with regulating property? It is not very clear — Andrey Lugovoi, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Security and Anti-Corruption.

We suggested that taxation should be based on the consumed kilowatt/hour. We use meters in houses – it is exactly the same approach with microgeneration. We allowed all citizens of our country put up solar panels and wind turbines at home – all, who have such opportunity. And we said, "If you sell up to 15 kilowatts of electricity, you are not subject to income tax — Pavel Snikkars, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.