Russia to regulate Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT trading
6.8 Regulation Russia's central bank plans regulated trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT, with investor limits and risk tests. Privacy coins are banned. The framework takes effect September 1, 2026.
Russia's central bank has proposed allowing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether's USDT to be traded on regulated exchanges. This follows new legislation granting the bank authority to determine which digital currencies can be admitted to organized trading. The draft regulation, open for public comment until August 24, 2026, lists these three assets due to their high market capitalization, trading volume, and established price history. Non-qualified investors would be limited to purchasing up to 300,000 rubles (about $3,650–$4,000) per year per intermediary, while qualified investors face no such limits. All investors must pass a test and acknowledge the risks before trading. The use of these digital assets for domestic purchases remains prohibited, and privacy coins are explicitly banned. The framework is set to take effect on September 1, 2026, aiming to protect retail investors from volatility while allowing broader access to major cryptocurrencies.
