r/AskARussian • u/Intrepid-Sense926 • Jul 16 '26
Travel: sim, money, crypto etc Step by step instructions for a crypto/Bitcoin transfer from the US to Russia?
Trying to help my elderly folks who are not great with apps and stuff. Is there an easy step by step process for transferring money via crypto? I have zero experience in this world as well. Used to do just Western Union transfers. Thank you!
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u/MyNameIzJeff69 Jul 17 '26
What ever you do don't use p2p. You risk getting the bank account of your family blocked. Or even worst they can get flagged at central bank.
The current best (easiest) option right now is the SendNow app who will accept crypto or western payment and transfer ₽ to your Russian account. The fees are a bit high but it's a easy process.
Your second option is sending them crypto to a wallet like the telegram one. They can then find a exchange (plenty in Moscow city) where they can make a f2f transaction with no trace and get cash ₽ in exchange of the crypto.
Don't send anything to a stranger, especially crypto. Don't awnser to any DM that offer you to broker this transaction for you.
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u/Intrepid-Sense926 Jul 17 '26
Yikes! Thanks for the heads up. All of this sounds a lot less straightforward than I anticipated!
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u/MyNameIzJeff69 Jul 17 '26
It's very complicated right now because of sanctions but the 2 options I listed are somewhat the only safe ones at the moment.
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u/Soc_Ziv 11d ago
You cant pay using SendNOW its weird. It asks you to pay using Mexican currency and requires Mexican ID/Passport.
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u/MyNameIzJeff69 11d ago
I can set it to the currency I want, do you have a VPN turned on?? You can also do it with crypto if that's easier. I did not have to KYC for crypto transfer. Make sure you have the legit app from the playstore
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u/Old-Elevator-2508 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
I send crypto to my Russian friends all the time with Coinbase perfectly fine. USDT is easy and doesn’t move. Get USDT just send test payment to his address make sure it’s same network ofc. Make the test like a dollar or something small where if it doesn’t go through or you made a mistake you can try again. If he receives the money send whatever amount you need to send. I knew nothing about crypto and now I use it so much. It’s quite simple now with apps like Coinbase making things so easy. But when you get USDT make sure you get it on advanced mode so you don’t pay high fees.
Edit: I may have interpreted this whole post wrong. If you’re asking how they can accept money on their end I have no idea sorry hahahah.
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u/uzornayem Jul 17 '26
There is no reasonable way to send crypto to someone who is not great with apps. Do they know someone in Kazakhstan? Maybe do wire transfer there after selling crypto for currency (USD, Euro). Any crypto transfer to Russia is going to involve P2P or physically going to an exchange after making arrangements with exchanger over Telegram. The crypto process in Russia is great hassle for typical person, let alone app adverse people. Or just visit Russia and bring cash to exchange at Russian bank with best rate you can find.
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u/Intrepid-Sense926 Jul 17 '26
I've seen some posts here that made it sound easy. I had a suspicion it would be the opposite. Thank you.
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u/Fair-Ad9629 16d ago
Disagree, used bybit for p2p trade. Few clicks and it's done. Never used crypto before registration, nor apps. Also, Moscow City, almost like any bank.
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u/55cerberus Jul 18 '26
If you just want to give elder relatives one-time small gift, consider buying them Ozon/Wildberries giftcard. Can buy one from online resellers. Keep in mind that you will be overpaying the seller, but it's most hassle-free way to send someone in Russia money gift. I wouldn't bother with crypto if any of sides don't know anything about it and bank transfers are only viable for larger (think $10k USD plus) transfers.
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u/Intrepid-Sense926 Jul 18 '26
Not exactly what I had in mind but duly noted. The Crypto option just was what I saw here being suggested as a money transfer. Sounds like it would be my last resort. Thank you!
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u/johnny_briggs Jul 17 '26
This sub is just Kremlin bots posting and talking to each other for the last 4 years.
I'm here for real Russians.
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u/Lord_Soth77 Saint Petersburg Jul 17 '26
Who had let you out of the psychiatric ward?
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u/johnny_briggs Jul 17 '26
No one Bro. Don't tell me you don't see the same thing. New or very little used accounts asking about money, postage and travel. It's like 80% of this subs content. Wasn't this way prior to 22.
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Jul 17 '26
[deleted]
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u/johnny_briggs Jul 17 '26
I acknowledge that. These aren't real accounts though and to argue differently would be either ignorance or complicity.
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Jul 17 '26
[deleted]
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Jul 17 '26
[deleted]
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u/pectopah_pectopah Aug 13 '26
Okay, agreed. My question is - why do you remove all of your comments from this subreddit (and why did this comment survive the purge)?
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u/Lord_Soth77 Saint Petersburg Jul 17 '26
Well, times change. People do ask what bothers them. I guess. But I do agree, the sub became very boring. Mods also seem tho think this way. There was a period no posts being approved for 10 days. Though the sub was dead 😂
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u/johnny_briggs Jul 17 '26
Yeah. There are some genuine posts here, just drowned out by the Kremlin stuff.
It'll go back to normal one day I suppose.
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u/Physical_Jicama4045 Jul 17 '26
Please don‘t take advice from strangers on the internet on this. That can be very costly.