Russia Legalizes Cryptocurrency Amid Strict Controls
Russia has officially legalized cryptocurrency through a new law signed by President Putin, allowing trading and investment via regulated platforms while banning domestic payments. The law establishes a framework for oversight by the Central Bank and defines digital assets as property.
Consensus
- President Vladimir Putin signed a law on digital currencies and digital rights.
- The law officially recognizes cryptocurrencies as property.
- Cryptocurrency transactions in Russia are restricted to regulated platforms such as exchanges, brokers, asset managers, and crypto-exchange operators.
- The Central Bank of Russia will oversee and regulate the market.
- Domestic payments using cryptocurrency are prohibited.
- Crypto-exchange operators must register in a state registry and have a minimum capital of 15 million rubles.
- A transition period until July 1, 2027, is granted for existing operators to comply.
- Investors must pass a test to trade, with non-qualified investors limited to 300,000 rubles per year per intermediary.
- Only cryptocurrencies meeting Central Bank criteria (capitalization over 5 trillion rubles and daily turnover over 1 trillion) can be traded on public exchanges.
- The law will come into effect on September 1, 2026, with some provisions taking effect later.
- Transactions involving foreign trade contracts, mining rewards, network fees, and digital assets are exempt from the payment ban.
- Banks must block transfers to unlicensed entities involved in unauthorized crypto exchange.
Points of divergence
- The law primarily serves political and strategic interests, enabling mechanisms for circumventing sanctions, with benefits concentrated among state-connected companies and individuals such as Adam Delimkhanov, Yuri Kovalchuk, and Viktor Khmarnin. — novaya_eu
- The law includes provisions for criminal liability for organizing crypto circulation without license, with penalties to be introduced via separate legislative drafts. — thebell
- Transfers to non-custodial wallets are allowed but subject to a 48-hour cooling-off period for transactions over 100,000 rubles. — vm
- The law marks the first time Russia has formally established rules for cryptocurrency, giving digital assets a clear legal status and enabling judicial protection. — fontanka
Coverage (19 sources)
- In Russia, cryptocurrency has been officially legalized — Putin signed a law on regulating cryptocurrency and digital rights — Deals will be allowed through exchanges, brokers, managers and exchange offices. — Paying with cryptocurrency within the country is not allowed. — Profits are subject to NDFL... — Новости Москвы
- In Russia, cryptocurrency has been officially legalized — Putin signed a law on regulating cryptocurrency and digital rights — Deals will be allowed through exchanges, brokers, managers and exchange offices. — Paying with cryptocurrency within the country is not allowed. — Profits are subject to NDFL... — Московский кэш
- Putin pulls crypto out of the shadows. What will change with the new law on digital currency legalization in Russia — Фонтанка
- Showcase Exemptions. In the first law on cryptocurrencies, Russian authorities allowed only mechanisms to bypass sanctions. Analysis by Novaya-Evrope — Новая газета Европа
- Putin signs law on crypto legalization in Russia — The Moscow Times
- Putin legalized cryptocurrency trading in Russia, but paying with it within the country will not be possible — The Bell
- Putin signed the law legalizing cryptocurrency use in the Russian Federation — Вечерняя Москва
- Cryptocurrency in Russia will become legal, but will remain under a cap. Putin signed a new law — Фонтанка
- In Russia, cryptocurrency trading has been officially legalized — the corresponding law was signed by Vladimir Putin. — Baza
- In Russia, cryptocurrency has been officially legalized — Putin signed a law on regulating cryptocurrency and digital rights — Новости Москвы
- Putin signed law on digital currencies and digital rights — Вести
- Putin signs law on regulating cryptocurrencies in Russia — SOTAvision
- Putin signed the law on regulation of cryptocurrency circulation in Russia — Коммерсантъ
- Putin signed the law on legalization of cryptocurrencies in Russia — Ведомости
- Putin signed the law on regulation of cryptocurrencies in Russia — Интерфакс
- Putin signed the law on regulation of cryptocurrencies in the Russian Federation — Интерфакс
- Law for legal cryptocurrency trading in Russia adopted by State Duma: Document recognizes digital currencies as property. Ro... — РИА Новости (Telegram)
- Lawyer explained who will be able to trade cryptocurrency in Russia — Вести
- Senator Shenderyuk-Zhidkov told about new rules of work with cryptocurrency — Вести
Key entities
- Russia
- Vladimir Putin
- Moscow
- State Duma
- Bank of Russia
- INTERFAX.RU
- Central Bank
- Council of Federation
- New Europe
- CB
- FSB
- IT 'News'
- News.ru
- Alexander Shenderuk-Zhidkov
- Denis Spitsyn