Russia Takes Step Towards Regulated Crypto Market
The Bank of Russia has published draft regulations for organized cryptocurrency trading, aiming to bring digital currency trading under structured oversight while supporting the development of a crypto framework.
The proposed regulations require exchanges to determine how digital currencies and digital rights are traded through their own rules, calculate market and weighted average prices, disclose trading information, and submit data to the central bank.
Minimum capital requirements for new entities called 'digital depositories' would range from 50 million to 250 million roubles, depending on whether they work with open distributed ledgers or provide post-trade settlement services. These entities would record holdings and transfers of cryptocurrencies and digital rights, operating similarly to traditional securities depositories.
The regulations support legislation approved by the State Duma and Federation Council in July 2026, which will allow qualified and non-qualified investors to trade cryptocurrencies through regulated intermediaries. Non-qualified investors will be limited to selected liquid cryptocurrencies and annual purchases of 300,000 roubles after passing a knowledge test.