Bank of Russia Eases Qualified Investor Rules Ahead of Crypto Trading Limits

The Bank of Russia has relaxed its requirements for individuals seeking qualified investor status. The new rules allow applicants to prove their knowledge through approved local certificates, such as the Qualifin Certificate or the Moscow Exchange Investor Certificate.

Under the revised framework, individuals can pass a financial and banking knowledge test and obtain one of these certified documents. This will grant them access to broader trading activity, including higher limits for buying cryptocurrencies. According to Deputy Governor Mikhail Mamuta, the new approach focuses on investor knowledge and risk awareness.

Mamuta emphasized that the goal is not to increase the number of qualified investors but to help people understand the risks involved in complex financial products. The change will take effect on August 31, coinciding with new Russian crypto rules that limit non-qualified investors to buying up to 300,000 rubles (about $3,800) in cryptocurrencies per year.

The easier certification route may give more individuals a legal path toward broader crypto trading access if they meet the required knowledge standard. As Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina defended the limits in July, lawmakers designed them to protect people who may not fully understand the risks involved in crypto and other complex financial products.