The Russian cryptocurrency trading platform Grinex has shut down, and experts say it will "severely damage" the Russian shadow economy

According to DL News, the major Russian cryptocurrency exchange Grinex has ceased operations due to a suspected major cyber attack, reportedly resulting in losses exceeding 1 billion rubles (approximately 13 million USD). The platform claimed on Telegram that the attack showed "signs of involvement from foreign intelligence agencies."

Grinex is the successor to the previously sanctioned and closed Garantex exchange, providing a financial channel for the Russian economy to evade sanctions. Experts point out that Grinex's closure is not only due to the hacker attack itself but, more importantly, it removes the trading platform that Russian businesses relied on to convert rubles into usable international currencies, causing "serious damage" to the infrastructure that allows Russia to evade sanctions, making it more difficult for the Russian economy to escape the pressure of sanctions.

The exchange was sanctioned by Western authorities such as the U.S., U.K., and the European Union in August 2025. Meanwhile, the Russian economy continues to weaken, with Putin revealing that GDP fell by 1.8% in January-February this year, and maritime oil exports may drop to their lowest level since 2023.