For the past two years, authorities in Russia have been adamant to ban the use of bitcoin in the country. But recent reports are suggesting that Russian officials are now softening against the popular digital currency.

A source familiar with the matter told Russian news agency Interfax that representatives of the country’s Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank and government staff are seeking to abandon the idea of punishing whoever is caught involved in bitcoin operations in the country. According to the report, the group is planning to submit a recommendation to President Vladimir Putin in the second half of August.

The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federations has been very vocal in opposing digital currency in the country. In fact, ministry officials has been working on a draft law that will punish those who use bitcoins and engage cryptocurrency trade and mining activities. That bill, however, has met strong opposition even before reaching the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament.

In May, the Ministry of Justice challenged the bill’s lack of a precise definition for money substitutes or ‘surrogates,’ which is the term that Russian officials often use to describe bitcoin.