Russia's telecom regulator has blocked P2P Bitcoin trading website LocalBitcoins, according to reports from various sources.

• Telecom regulator Roskomnadzor has banned access to the LocalBitcoins domain; some media outlets have reported that this has been happening since late August
• The website can still be accessed through a VPN, and the fact that there has been no drop in activity indicates that VPNs are being used
• Russia is LocalBitcoins largest market and experiences trade volumes of nearly $6.5 million on LocalBitcoins, according to Coin Dance 
• LocalBitcoins was blocked 4 years ago, before being access was reestablished; Russia in July 2020 said that it would impose restrictions on the site
• Possession of Bitcoin is legal in Russia, but it cannot be used as a means of payment