The main events by the morning: November 21

• Bitcoin has reached the $97 thousand mark: the cryptocurrency market continues to grow. Experts call the election of Donald Trump and the expectations of his policy towards cryptocurrencies the main growth factor. According to Bloomberg, a special post responsible for crypto policy may appear in the administration of the new US president. It is also expected that Trump will promote measures to simplify the regulation of crypto assets, which further spurs investor optimism.

• Russia has regained its status as the main gas supplier to the European Union. According to Eurostat, in September 2024, EU countries purchased €1.4 billion worth of Russian gas, which is one third more than in the same period last year. About 40% of supplies were from liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russia's share of gas imports to the EU amounted to 23.7%, overtaking Algeria, whose share fell to 15%.

• Russia plans to introduce a single universal payment QR code. The relevant bill has been submitted to the State Duma. The document provides for the mandatory use of bank details or links to transfers via a QR code managed by the National Payment Card System (NSPK). Frank Media notes that this step is related to the preparation for the large-scale introduction of the digital ruble.

• The United States has offered to write off Ukraine's debt in the amount of $4.65 billion. According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, congressional approval will be required to implement this initiative. However, even debt cancellation will not solve all of Ukraine's economic difficulties. The country will need $15 billion by 2025 to cover the state budget deficit.

• China and Brazil intend to «pave the way» to a political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The countries jointly developed a «six-point consensus» on resolving the crisis and, together with a number of countries in the Global South, formed a group of «Friends of Peace». This consensus provides for the rejection of the escalation of hostilities, the negotiation process, the prevention of a humanitarian crisis, the safety of civilian facilities and the population and the inadmissibility of the use of weapons of mass destruction.