Russia moves to recognize cryptocurrencies as currency assets under new plan

Russian authorities intend to treat cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as “currency assets,” according to the Bank of Russia’s new plan for complete regulation of the market.

For the first time, the monetary authority is now proposing to significantly expand investor access to decentralized digital money, although not without fine print.

Russian regulators open door for cryptocurrency

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has released key points from its latest and most comprehensive concept to regulate cryptocurrency in the country.

The new strategy suggests recognizing digital currencies such as Bitcoin and stablecoins like Tether as “currency assets” or monetary assets.

Russians will be allowed to buy and sell coins but banned from using them in domestic transactions, meaning crypto payments are most likely to remain out of the question.

Under the proposed framework, non-professional investors will be granted access to crypto, a privilege currently reserved for a narrow category of players vetted mostly based on income and status.

In an announcement published Tuesday, the monetary policy regulator highlighted:

It also emphasized that “unqualified investors will be able to acquire the most liquid cryptocurrencies,” provided they meet certain criteria that are yet to be introduced through legislation.

That’s only if the citizens willing to touch cryptocurrency pass special testing, presumably to determine their awareness of the matter.

What’s more, their purchases will be capped at 300,000 rubles annually (a little over $3,800) through a single intermediary.

Qualified investors will be free to get hold of any cryptocurrency, except anonymous coins, or the ones that “conceal information about token transfers to recipients.”

While no restrictions will apply to them in terms of quantity, they will be tested, too, to ensure their understanding of the associated risks.

Russian residents will also be able to buy cryptocurrency abroad, paying with foreign-based accounts, and export previously acquired crypto through Russian intermediaries, after duly notifying the Russian Federal Tax Service (FNS).

Crypto exchanges will have to meet strict standards

Russia’s existing financial infrastructure will be used to process crypto transactions, the press release further detailed. Traditional exchanges, brokers, and trustees will do that under their current licenses.

At the same time, a set of separate requirements will be introduced for specialized depositories and exchange platforms that specifically work with cryptocurrencies.

The new regulations will also affect Russia’s market for digital financial assets (DFAs), a category encompassing products like tokenized securities as defined in a dedicated law, which entered into force in 2021.

Until now, these were only issued on private rather than public blockchains. The CBR clarified:

“The circulation of DFAs and other Russian digital rights (utility and hybrid) will be permitted on open networks. This will allow issuers to freely attract investment from abroad, and clients to acquire digital financial assets on terms no worse than those for cryptocurrency.”

The monetary authority calls for the development of legislation needed to implement its regulatory concept by July 1, 2026. Other relevant laws, including provisions imposing liability for illegal provision of crypto services, should be adopted by July 2027.

The CBR plan is yet to be approved by the executive and legislative powers in Moscow. Draft amendments have already been submitted for government review.

Year brings significant change in Russia’s attitude towards crypto

The Bank of Russia’s latest proposals represent a major departure from the previously conservative stance of Russian regulators on cryptocurrency that started with the legalization of mining in 2024.

In March of 2025, the central bank proposed an “experimental legal regime” allowing coin payments in foreign trade under sanctions and giving “highly qualified” investors access to crypto assets.

In May, it authorized the offering of crypto derivatives to the latter and has since started talks with the Finance Ministry on admitting more investors to this market, signaling it’s ready to loosen the rules.

The CBR now wants to allow commercial banks to work with digital assets and let mutual funds invest in them and their derivatives, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

Another notable change has been the decision to abandon earlier intentions to allow ordinary Russians to hold and sell their crypto while preventing them from buying more.

Yet, Moscow is still unlikely to permit the unrestricted circulation of cryptocurrencies in Russia’s economy or their use as a means of payment in its jurisdiction, as recently indicated by the head of the important parliamentary committee on financial markets.

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