Putin Signs Landmark Crypto Law as Russia Opens Regulated Trading to Investors

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law regulating cryptocurrency exchanges and allowing retail and qualified investors to buy cryptocurrencies through certified financial intermediaries.

The rules apply to crypto exchanges, digital depositories, brokers, asset managers, organized trading platforms and clearing providers, but the ban on using cryptocurrency as a payment method remains.

From 1 September 2026, non-qualified investors will be permitted to purchase only crypto-assets that have been approved by the regulators as being the most liquid.

As before, investors will be required to pass a suitability test before they can purchase 300,000 rubles’ worth of crypto-assets through each intermediary annually.