Russian Crypto Exchange Association Seeks SRO Status Amid Regulatory Pressure

The Association of Organizations Engaged in Digital Currency Exchange (AOCD) held its congress in Moscow on September 1, where it discussed plans to obtain self-regulatory organization (SRO) status.

According to its website, the AOCD was established in 2026 in response to Russia's digital currency regulation. The association aims to develop industry recommendations, maintain a member registry, and establish standards for control.

Industry representatives expressed concerns that new rules could negatively impact the exchange business economy. Under the rules, crypto exchanges must have a capital of at least 15 million rubles, be listed in the Bank of Russia's registry, and join a relevant SRO.

Maxim Bokov, chief analyst at Shard, believes the capital requirements are below average compared to other regulated jurisdictions. He also noted that many players may not rush to legalize, allowing large financial organizations to take the lead.