On July 31, 2026, Andrey Svintsov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, advised Russian citizens to stop purchasing Gram cryptocurrency and to halt all financial transactions on Telegram until security agencies issue official guidance. The statement adds a new layer of uncertainty around Telegram's financial ecosystem in Russia.
The warning
Svintsov's advice was direct: Russian users should immediately cease buying Gram and stop any Telegram-based financial activity. He did not specify a reason for the warning, but urged the public to wait for guidance from security agencies before resuming such transactions. The statement carries weight given Svintsov's role on a key parliamentary committee overseeing information policy.
For Russians who have invested in Gram or use Telegram for payments, the advice effectively freezes those activities. Without official security agency guidance, users face a choice between following the lawmaker's recommendation or continuing to transact — a risk that could carry legal or financial consequences. The warning does not carry the force of law, but it signals that regulators may be preparing stricter oversight.
Next steps
No timeline has been given for the security agencies' assessment. Svintsov's statement suggests an official review is underway, but until it concludes, Telegram's financial services in Russia remain in limbo. Users are left waiting for the next move from Moscow.
