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Mar 1, 2022

Cryptocurrency is aiding Ukraine — and potentially Russian oligarchs

While Ukraine solicits cryptocurrency donations, Russians turn to volatile digital currencies as an alternative to the plummeting ruble.

Pedestrians walk under a Bitcoin cryptocurrency symbol displayed at a cryptocurrency exchange shop in Pristina on January 17, 2022. - Kosovo police on January 8 seized hundreds of cryptocurrency mining machines and arrested one person in the tense ethnic-Serb majority north as the country suffered an energy crisis. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are created through solving complex equations -- an endeavour that consumes enormous amounts of energy. Tensions between the Serb-majority area and the ethnic Albanian majority government are running high and Kosovo's government on Tuesday brought in a temporary ban on cryptocurrency mining in an effort to bring down electricity consumption. — Pedestrians walk under a Bitcoin cryptocurrency symbol displayed at a cryptocurrency exchange shop in Pristina on January 17, 2022. - Kosovo police on January 8 seized hundreds of cryptocurrency mining machines and arrested one person in the tense ethnic-Serb majority north as the country suffered an energy crisis. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are created through solving complex equations -- an endeavour that consumes enormous amounts of energy. Tensions between the Serb-majority area and the ethnic Albanian majority government are running high and Kosovo's government on Tuesday brought in a temporary ban on cryptocurrency mining in an effort to bring down electricity consumption.
Armend Nimani/AFP via Getty Images

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Segments From This Episode

As the ruble tumbles, cryptocurrency attracts ordinary Russians, oligarchs, maybe even the state itself
by Matt Levin
Kirill Kudryavstev/AFP Getty Images
In some ways, cryptocurrency is perfect for the conditions the war is creating.
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Russia tries to stop exit of Western businesses as departures accelerate
by Meghan McCarty Carino
Stefani Reynolds/AFP Getty Images
We’ve seen widescale repudiation of a country by the global business community before, but this feels different.
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Facebook, TikTok and YouTube ban Russian state media channels
by Samantha Fields
Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images
The bans follow Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Social media platforms have often resisted calls to restrict controversial content.
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A New Jersey community pharmacy’s vaccine rollout, a year later
by Marielle Segarra
Courtesy Minniti
This time last year, Bell Pharmacy was doing everything it could to prepare for COVID-19 vaccines … without knowing when the doses would arrive.
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine is rippling through the customs business
by Sean McHenry
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
Gretchen Blough, a customs broker in Erie, Pennsylvania, explains how the geopolitical turmoil is affecting her company.
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Can The New American Home inspire builders to go green?
by Amy Scott
Amy Scott/Marketplace
The house with three kitchens, a 12-nozzle shower for two and a tiled washing station for one lucky dog is designed as a “net-zero” energy home.
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Music from the episode

The Team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer
Maria Hollenhorst Producer II
Andie Corban Producer I
Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II
Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I
Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer