Russia Throws Open the Crypto Gates: New Bill Paves Way for Non-Qualified Investors

Moscow is drafting legislation that could flood the crypto market with a wave of new capital—directly from the pockets of everyday Russians.

The Regulatory Shift

For years, access to digital asset markets in Russia was tightly controlled, reserved for so-called 'qualified investors' who met specific financial thresholds. That wall is coming down. The proposed bill aims to dismantle these barriers, effectively letting retail investors trade cryptocurrencies through locally licensed platforms. It's a move that bypasses years of bureaucratic hesitation and aligns with a global, if uneven, trend toward mainstream adoption.

Why This Matters Now

The timing isn't accidental. With traditional finance channels under strain from international sanctions, crypto presents a parallel financial system—one that's harder to isolate. Opening the gates to the general public isn't just about consumer choice; it's a strategic play for economic resilience. Expect licensed exchanges to see a surge in user registrations the moment this bill passes, though whether this leads to prudent investment or just another speculative frenzy remains to be seen. After all, nothing boosts market liquidity like letting the general public in to chase the dream of easy money.

A calculated gamble by the Kremlin that could reshape both its domestic financial landscape and the global crypto flow. Watch this space—the bulls are already circling.

Russia Lawmaker Says Crypto Set to Enter Everyday Use Under New Bill

“A bill has already been prepared that removes cryptocurrencies from special financial regulation, meaning they will become commonplace in our lives,” Aksakov said in an interview with the Russia-24 television channel, as cited by TASS.

Under the proposed framework, access for non-qualified investors would remain capped.

Individuals who do not meet Russia’s qualified-investor requirements would be allowed to buy cryptocurrencies worth up to 300,000 rubles, or roughly $3,800.

Aksakov said professional market participants would not be subject to similar restrictions.

Beyond domestic trading, the law is also expected to support the use of crypto in cross-border activity.

Aksakov said the changes could facilitate international settlements and enable the overseas placement of tokens issued by Russian entities, an area of growing interest as the country seeks alternatives to traditional financial rails.

According to TASS, Russian State Duma Financial Market Committee chair Anatoly Aksakov said a bill is ready that would remove cryptocurrencies from “special financial regulation,” aiming to make their use more common in daily life. Speaking to Rossiya-24, Aksakov said upcoming…

The comments follow earlier signals from Russian authorities pointing to a more permissive, but closely monitored, approach to retail crypto use.

In December, the Bank of Russia proposed allowing non-qualified investors to trade digital assets after passing a risk-awareness test, while maintaining a ban on anonymous and privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.

Around the same time, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the finance ministry and the central bank were working toward a coordinated framework that would permit retail participation within defined limits.

Officials have repeatedly emphasized that transaction caps and investment thresholds would be critical to containing financial and systemic risks as crypto adoption expands.

Crypto Questions Flood Russia’s Social Fund

As reported, Russia’s Social Fund received about 37 million calls in 2025, with crypto-related questions emerging as one of the most common topics alongside standard social benefit inquiries.

Citizens frequently asked whether pensions could be paid in digital assets and whether income from crypto mining would count toward benefit calculations, prompting officials to reiterate that all state payments are made exclusively in rubles and that crypto taxation falls under the Federal Tax Service.

The attention comes as crypto mining gains political and economic relevance. Senior officials have argued that mining should be recognized as an export activity, noting its impact on foreign exchange flows despite the lack of physical cross-border movement.

Late last month, Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange confirmed readiness to launch crypto trading once Russia’s legislative framework takes effect by July 1, 2026, following the Bank of Russia’s December 23 regulatory concept release.