Putin Signs Russia's First Crypto Law: Regulating Digital Currencies and Rights

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed Russia's first crypto law, providing a framework for digital currencies and rights. The legislation sets rules for exchanges, depositories, and market participants, with most provisions taking effect on September 1, 2026.

The law requires digital currency exchange providers to hold minimum equity of 15 million rubles (about $187,339), while only entities listed in a special registry can conduct digital currency exchange activity. Exchange activity is defined as two or more transactions exceeding 3.5 million rubles (about $43,712) within a single month.

Retail investors who are not classified as qualified will be limited to purchasing the most liquid cryptocurrencies through licensed intermediaries, capped at 300,000 rubles (about $3,700) per intermediary each year. Qualified investors face no such cap and can buy any cryptocurrency.