He "just checked for me" online and he thinks I'm the one naive

I'm from Russia. People who get paid tether travel out to cash in anonymously. I know because I know them. Believe me you don't want to gamble on this

> That would be an impossible country to live in.

Really? I have no words. Not being able to use crypto and it's now an impossible country to live in? How about this, people just use cash. 99.9999% of people cashing in loads of tether are criminals or connected to the government or both. Who do you think is so rich they just casually throw around tens thousands tether? On average a good salary is like 1k at best

Impossible to live in complying with all the Russian laws, not particularly a crypto one. Well, possible, but quite miserable experience.

So are you saying that people get paid in tether after the sentence that it's used 99.9% by the government only?

Yes, I say government (or let's just say criminals) is at least 99.9% of all crypto moved. The war machine needs feeding. Sanctions. Think about it will other countries use worthless ruble that is pretty much not convertible? Will russia use winnie pooh money (also not convertible)? People who move tether because maybe they found some real work abroad or because they are helping a family or something is rounding error

Well, hello from a rounding error. I am Russian, I live in another country, and my bank accounts are closed because of "sanctions" even though I support Ukraine and will be immediately sent to prison were I to return to Russia. So I am sorry, don't touch my crypto.

People like you champion crypto to work around pain and by this they prop up the same government that caused them this pain, good job

> will be immediately sent to prison were I to return to Russia

If this is true you can apply to asylum but for most people who fear this it is not true. Uunless you are literally famous, a rich guy or journalist or inconvenient criminal you are fine. Putler is not a total idiot and keeps an image of normal. My friends support Ukraine and one just recently came abroad again third time since the war started just fine. (To cash in crypto anonymous)

Send proof if I'm wrong!

I cannot apply for asylum as I left Russia many years before the war, so I technically wasn't "prosecuted". And there are many cases where people who are not famous journalists were jailed for a single comment like "Russia bombed Mariupol", do you need proofs of these cases, or you can find those yourself?

No I can't, please post proof. I know journalists who rot in jail and I have a pro Ukraine friend who shares stories about different беспредел but not about random regular people jailed for things online. And that friend travels from Russia with no issues

> cannot apply for asylum as I left Russia many years before the war, so I technically wasn't "prosecuted"

you CAN apply for asylum if there is evidence that you will be prosecuted if you return. Really bro. I think even gay/trans people for example used this. But for being pro Ukraine anti war I don't think there's evidence you would be prosecuted unless you are famous or something

> Sanctions

They also affect businesses, not only the government.

International businesses which is also small minority and if they do stuff legally anyway I don't see why they would use crypto and if they do stuff illegally I don't see why they would trust randos in Moscow to give them cash and possibly get burned...