Belarus Approves Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies for Non-Deliverable OTC Instruments

A joint resolution by the Council of Ministers and National Bank took effect on May 27, allowing cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin to serve as underlying assets for cash-settled non-deliverable OTC contracts.

BTC

Summary

Belarus has added cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin to the list of eligible underlying assets for non-deliverable over-the-counter financial instruments under a joint resolution by the Council of Ministers and the National Bank. The resolution took effect on May 27. These OTC contracts are cash-settled and do not involve delivery of the underlying asset, allowing exposure to price movements without transferring the cryptocurrency itself. The move expands the range of financial instruments linked to digital assets within Belarus’s regulated framework.

Terms & Concepts
  • Non-deliverable OTC instruments: Private financial contracts settled in cash instead of delivering the underlying asset. Profit or loss reflects the asset’s price movement over the contract period.
  • Underlying asset: The reference asset that determines a derivative contract’s value, such as Bitcoin, a stock index, an interest rate, or another financial benchmark.