Russia Cracks Down on Crypto with Mandatory TIN Linkage

The Russian government has introduced a new law requiring crypto users to link their Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) to regulated accounts, as part of its fight against money laundering.

The TIN is a 12-digit number assigned to Russian citizens and used throughout the federation. To open an account with a licensed digital exchange in Russia, users need to provide their TIN, government-issued passport details, verified proof of address, and source-of-funds documentation.

The new regulation also imposes severe structural barriers between self-custody crypto users and the Russian economy. Self-custody users must first route funds to a foreign custodial exchange or foreign bank account before transferring them to their private keys.