Central Bank of Russia report: Bitcoin ranks among the top assets.

Source: Blockchain Knight

At a time when the global economic landscape is being readjusted, the Central Bank of Russia has unexpectedly spoken out. In its latest report, the Central Bank of Russia listed BTC as a leading financial asset for 2025. This recognition comes from an institution that has been cautious about Crypto assets so far, which is indeed surprising.

This transition highlights the outstanding performance of BTC as an asset and demonstrates how it is increasingly integrated into investment strategies even in a tightly controlled financial environment like Russia.

The Central Bank of Russia Recognizes the Excellent Performance of BTC

In an official report released in May 2025, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) acknowledged that BTC had performed exceptionally well over the past 12 months.

The document states: "The annual return rate of BTC is close to 40%, outperforming all other analyzed financial instruments."

The report provides a precise comparison of the return rates of various assets, covering everything from gold to Russian Federation bonds (OFZ), as well as stocks in specific industries.

Additionally, the report also pointed out: "Since January 2022, the cumulative return rate of BTC has reached 121%", which is considered huge compared to traditional assets, most of which have not exceeded single digits in return rates.

This analysis is based on two sets of data presented in report charts 36 and 37, comparing the performance of various financial instruments over the past 12 months and since January 2022. The analyzed assets mainly include:

• Russian Federal Bonds (OFZ), usually regarded as a stable benchmark, but their yields have been very modest;
• Ruble and Euro deposits have not performed above 5% to 6%;
• Gold only achieved a single-digit increase during the observation period;
• Russian sector stocks (energy, transportation, finance, consumer) and the Moscow Exchange Index (MOEX), all of which underperform BTC;
• The Standard & Poor's 500 Total Return Index (S&P 500 TR) and U.S. Treasuries have also been surpassed in cumulative performance by Crypto assets.

Although this quantitative recognition was presented within a neutral analytical framework, it breaks the cautious and even resistant attitude of the Russian authorities towards BTC in history.

It highlights the rise of an asset that, although not officially supported, has now emerged due to its performance in return rates.

Continuous Fluctuation and Global Adoption

Despite the Central Bank of Russia emphasizing the return rate of BTC, it has not overlooked the inherent risks brought by its volatility. The report noted: "In the first four months of 2025, the price of BTC fell by nearly 20%", and this setback severely shook the market and tested the resilience of investors.

However, the Crypto asset market rebounded quickly, with an increase of over 10% in April, helping to make up for the losses in the first quarter. These drastic fluctuations remind us that although BTC is quite attractive, it remains a high-risk asset that is prone to sudden corrections.

In addition to the domestic situation in Russia, the report from the Central Bank of Russia also highlights external factors supporting the growth of BTC. In particular, the spot BTC ETFs launched in the United States and Hong Kong have played a decisive role.

Analysis points out: "It is easier to acquire BTC through traditional brokers, facilitating the increasing popularity of BTC," and emphasizes that investors no longer need to master complex digital wallet technology.

In addition, the instability of the macro economy, whether due to the depreciation of the ruble or the uncertain global environment related to the trade war, has prompted savers to turn to dollar-denominated assets such as BTC.