Russia Approves First Official Crypto Exchanges

The Bank of Russia has taken a significant step by approving the country's first official crypto exchanges. Four organizations, VTB, T-Invest Lab, Zephyr, and Sistema-Kripto, have been added to a special register, allowing them to legally trade digital currencies. These companies can now buy and sell cryptocurrencies on their own behalf, operating outside organized trading platforms.

Additionally, five entities, VTB, Sber, Voltari, Atomize, and Cloud Infrastructure, have been granted the status of digital depositories. These organizations are responsible for accounting for digital currencies, recording asset transfers, and providing clients with access to identifier addresses where these assets are stored.

Under the new legislation, these approved companies must comply with established rules for conducting and accounting for operations. They have been given a transitional period until September 1, 2027, to fully align their operations with the new regulatory requirements. The new regulatory system officially began operating on September 1, 2026.

The Bank of Russia views this as a crucial milestone in developing a regulated infrastructure for the Russian digital currency market. The inclusion of these first participants marks an important stage in the country's efforts to integrate cryptocurrencies into its financial system.