37 million consultations behind the scenes: Why do Russian citizens want to use cryptocurrencies to receive their pensions

Russia’s Social Security Fund has recently encountered an interesting phenomenon: more and more citizens are calling to ask whether they can receive their pensions in cryptocurrency. According to the latest news, in 2025, the fund’s unified contact center received approximately 37 million inquiries, among which questions about paying pensions with cryptocurrency have become one of the most frequent non-standard requests. This number reflects not only the public’s interest in digital assets but also a snapshot of Russia’s crypto ecosystem status.

What Are People Asking

Russian citizens’ inquiries mainly focus on two aspects:

• Whether it is possible to receive pensions in cryptocurrency instead of the traditional ruble
• Whether mining income will be included in social welfare calculations

These questions seem simple but reveal the public’s recognition of cryptocurrencies as an asset class and their expectations regarding integration with the traditional financial system.

Official Response

The stance of Russia’s Social Security Fund is straightforward: currently, all pensions and social benefits are paid only in rubles, and cryptocurrencies are not involved.

However, this does not mean that digital assets are completely ignored. The official statement indicates that tax issues related to cryptocurrencies (including mining income) are to be recognized and handled by the Federal Tax Service of Russia. This shows that the Russian government has acknowledged the existence of digital assets and is working on establishing a corresponding tax framework.

What Does This Reflect

From this event, several trends can be observed:

The activity level of Russia’s crypto ecosystem

Citizens’ inquiries about cryptocurrencies have become one of the most frequent non-standard requests to the social security fund, indicating that digital assets are no longer a niche topic in Russia. This aligns with the relatively open policy environment Russia has adopted toward cryptocurrencies in recent years.

Citizens’ demand for asset diversification

Against the backdrop of ruble depreciation pressure and economic uncertainty, public interest in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies is not surprising. The idea of receiving pensions in crypto essentially reflects a desire to preserve asset value.

The ongoing policy normalization

The official distinction between pension payments (still in rubles) and crypto tax treatment (handled by the tax authorities) indicates that Russia is building a regulatory framework for digital assets rather than simply banning or tolerating them.

Summary

The most pressing question for Russian citizens currently does not have a definitive answer in the short term. However, considering the 37 million inquiries, cryptocurrencies have become a tangible topic in Russian society. The official stance is also evolving: from initial ambiguity to now clearly distinguishing pension policies from crypto tax regulations, which itself reflects the gradual improvement of the regulatory framework. In the future, as digital assets become more widespread in Russia, relevant policies may continue to be adjusted.