Russia Greenlights Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether for Public Trading

The Central Bank of Russia has approved Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether's stablecoin USDT for public trading on licensed cryptocurrency exchanges.

These three cryptocurrencies meet strict criteria set by the bank, including a minimum market capitalization of over $60 billion, an average daily trading volume of more than $12 billion, and a trading history of at least five years.

The approval is part of new purchase rules for non-professional investors, who will be able to buy these cryptocurrencies from any CBR-approved intermediary, including brokers, exchanges, and asset managers. The annual limit for purchases has been set at 300,000 rubles, or around $3,600.

Qualified investors, on the other hand, will have no restrictions in acquiring all cryptocurrencies traded on Russian exchanges and over-the-counter markets. However, both qualified and non-qualified investors must undergo testing to verify their awareness of the associated risks before making any transactions.