Putin Signs Russia's First Crypto Law Amid Record-Setting Bitcoin Inflows

Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed the country's first comprehensive crypto law on Tuesday. The law establishes licensing requirements for crypto exchange operators, who must register with a self-regulatory organization and hold minimum capital of 15 million rubles, roughly $187,000.

The new framework also introduces investment limits for retail investors, allowing them to buy up to 300,000 rubles ($3,800) of approved cryptocurrency per year through a single licensed intermediary. Digital depositories supervised by the Central Bank will record ownership of digital assets, mirroring traditional securities ownership in Russia.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $244 million in net inflows, led by BlackRock's IBIT with $196.83 million in daily net inflow. This is a strong indication of continued institutional interest in the cryptocurrency market.