Founders with Russian roots in 2025 attracted just over $3 billion of foreign investment in their projects, which is comparable to the result of 2024. This means that the crisis of 2022-2023, when foreign investors turned away from Russian startups after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, has been overcome. In 2026, Russian founders will have to deal with new serious problems, including tougher US immigration policy and Russia's inclusion in the EU's money laundering blacklist. How will this affect their business?

Startups with Russian roots attracted more than $3 billion in foreign investment in 2025. What awaits them in 2026? 

Bank Hapoalim B.M.

Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M.

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd.

Israel Discount Bank Limited

Israeli banks have stepped up checks on the tax residency of repatriates from the Russian Federation. The banks either ask clients to prove that the center of their life interests is now in Israel, or independently recognize their Russian tax residency, inviting the client to appeal at once. It is not worth ignoring the banks' requests, otherwise data on Israeli accounts and cards will be received by the Federal Tax Service as part of an auto-exchange of information, financial advisers warn.

Banks in Israel check repatriates for Russian tax residency: what are the risks?

Societe Generale Societe anonyme

BNP Paribas SA

UniCredit S.p.A.

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Russians living in the EU have started to encounter checks on previously approved money transfers to Revolut from CIS countries to Europe. Often these are transactions made 1-2 years ago. Neobank tries to find out whether a third country bank was not a transit link between Russia and the EU, asks for confirmation of the source of origin of the funds and blocks the account if it sees the Russian origin of the money.

Revolut has started checking old transfers by Russians. Why is this happening and what are the risks? 

The Carlyle Group Inc.

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Chevron Corporation

Russian oil company Lukoil has found a buyer for its foreign assets that may finally satisfy OFAC. This is the American Carlyle, an investment company with big connections in US political circles. What is it known for?

Washington Liaison: the story of Carlyle, the buyer of Lukoil's foreign assets

Raiffeisen Bank International AG

Strabag SE

Raiffeisenbank, a Russian subsidiary of the Austrian RBI group, generates a significant share of its profits. But its Austrian owners cannot receive dividends from it because of Russian laws and courts. On January 30, the Austrian bank will publish preliminary results for 2025. What should investors know about the bank's business in Russia?

Raiffeisen Bank will report for 2025. How its business will be affected by the Russian subsidiary

Wise Group AB

European banks and fintech services have begun blocking transfers to the accounts of Russians who permanently reside in other countries, even before the decision to include Russia in the list of high-risk countries came into force.  Oninvest is aware of several such cases.

European banks have started blocking Russians' transfers around the world

Halliburton Company

Baker Hughes Company

SLB N.V.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

PDD Holdings Inc.

Kuaishou Technology

Meituan

JD.com, Inc.

Legendary investor Michael Burry, who predicted the mortgage crisis of 2007-2008, has <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/pravila-igry-izmenilis-cto-majkl-b-urri-delaet-s-portfelem-posle-kraha-maduro">named</a> five companies from his current portfolio that could become beneficiaries of the collapse of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime and allow him to painlessly survive the new round of aggravation of relations between the United States and China. Oninvest with the help of analysts analyzed whether his bet will work for private investors.

Burry holds 5 stocks because of Venezuela and China. Should we follow his example? 

Revolut did not obtain a banking license in Ukraine, the NBU said in February

Revolut warned clients in Ukraine about account closures - Forbes Ukraine

Eni S.p.A.

BP p.l.c.

TotalEnergies SE

Shell plc

In October 2025, the US imposed blocking sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil. This raised questions about the fate of their foreign assets, especially in the case of Lukoil, which is traditionally focused on international expansion. What scenarios and contenders for this company's foreign assets are currently being discussed?

Yulia Petrova

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Startups with Russian roots have survived one crisis. But there is a new one ahead