Russia’s cryptocurrency mining bill, which would legalize crypto mining and the sale of mined crypto, could be approved by January, according to a report by local news agency Tass on Dec. 23.

The bill was introduced in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Nov. 17, 2022. At the time, Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the Financial Market Committee of the State Duma, expected the bill to pass all three parliamentary readings in December.

According to Aksakov, the passing of the bill was delayed since critics believe that the bill could create a gateway for capital flight from Russia.