In 2025, P2P cryptocurrency exchanges faced a wave of banking blockages due to laws 115-FZ and 161-FZ. This affected not only fraudsters but also regular users—investors, traders, miners, and freelancers. The aggregator of exchange services, BestChange, responded with a radical tightening of its rules: it excluded dozens of services and revamped its verification system.

How this works and why a significantly higher exchange rate is a red flag is explained by BestChange's product manager, Evgeny Alekseev.

The Origin of the Blocking Issue

ForkLog: Why did the number of banking card blockages among cryptocurrency exchange users surge in 2025?

Evgeny Alekseev: The overall number of blockages in the crypto industry increased. Initially, fraudsters began using P2P for their schemes. However, the issue runs deeper: cryptocurrency exchanges became a melting pot of high-risk traffic, including online casinos, betting companies, unlicensed brokers, and shadowy P2P platforms lacking any oversight.

This mixture became too volatile for the banking system. Regulators tightened controls to the maximum. Fraud prevention systems began operating on the principle of "block everything suspicious first, investigate later." As a result, everyone was affected indiscriminately: regular users, investors, miners, traders, and freelancers.

Then the "happy letters" started flying in. Complaints came from everywhere. We saw people facing banks alone simply because they received money indirectly linked to, for example, an illegal online casino.

Why an Inflated Rate is a Warning Sign

ForkLog: Users are complaining that exchange rates have become less attractive. What do you say to that?

Evgeny Alekseev: An exchange rate that is 10-15% better than the market rate usually indicates one thing: your card will be used to transfer money from a suspicious source or through a dubious scheme. The difference might look impressive—sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of rubles. But the question is, what was actually behind such "benefit"? Was it worth waking up to find all your accounts blocked and receiving a notification from "Gosuslugi" about a case being opened against you?

Today, on BestChange, you will find favorable rates and services that undergo regular checks and are committed to operating transparently.

Changes in Monitoring Standards

ForkLog: What specific measures has BestChange implemented?

Evgeny Alekseev: In October 2025, we introduced new standards and mandated all monitored exchanges to comply. The first step involved a radical reduction: we excluded 95 exchange points that employed high-risk payout schemes and required them to rectify the situation.

Adapting to the new rules required services to make substantial changes, not just formal adjustments. This took one to two months. We, in turn, thoroughly checked the updated procedures for compliance before allowing the exchange points back, which also took time.

However, excluding 95 services was just the first step. We then moved on to systemic measures.

ForkLog: What exactly were those?

Evgeny Alekseev: We implemented a continuous monitoring system. Each service is checked daily, and any attempt to revert to "gray" methods leads to exclusion from the listing.

Secret shoppers regularly conduct anonymous exchanges to assess the quality of ruble traffic.

We also banned the use of P2P platforms and processing through intermediaries that have not undergone full verification at the exchange point itself. No more "dark horses."

The updated BestChange rules prohibit any operations related to casinos, bookmakers, illegal exchanges, and shadow platforms that do not comply with AML/KYC procedures.

Consequences for Exchanges

ForkLog: What have you achieved?

Evgeny Alekseev: Based on confirmed complaints, the number of blockages when exchanging through services monitored by BestChange has decreased by 75% compared to peak levels in October 2025. In the rare cases where a complaint is validated, the issue is resolved promptly.

We also hide problematic exchange directions until all violations are fully rectified. It takes exchanges at least a month to restructure their business processes—this is a strict but reasonable measure.

Essentially, we have made "shadow" payment methods economically unviable for the services themselves. Exchange points on BestChange strive to operate honestly; otherwise, they risk losing their place in the monitoring, and consequently, client traffic and profits.

ForkLog: How would you summarize the main takeaway for users?

Evgeny Alekseev: The true criterion for a successful exchange is safety and peace of mind after the transaction. For this, we are willing to sacrifice even the number of exchange points in the listing.

FAQ

What is BestChange?

BestChange is an aggregator of exchange points operating since 2007. The platform helps users find and compare exchange rates for cryptocurrencies and electronic money from hundreds of verified services. BestChange does not participate in exchange operations and is not a party to the transaction.

What is included in the BestChange ecosystem?

How does BestChange protect users?

The service checks exchange points, analyzes reviews and complaints, and adapts requirements to changes in legislation. For violations, exchanges face sanctions, including exclusion from the listing.