Russia Moves Toward Liberalizing Crypto Regulations Amid Central Bank Shift
Russian financial authorities are advancing plans to dismantle restrictive cryptocurrency frameworks, signaling a potential watershed for digital asset adoption. The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has confirmed ongoing discussions with the Finance Ministry to expand access beyond the current limitation to 'highly qualified' investors—a policy Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov called obsolete last week.
First Deputy Chairman Vladimir Chistyukhin's November remarks reveal the CBR now considers regulatory easing 'quite possible,' marking a stark reversal from its historically hardline stance. This pivot occurs as Western sanctions continue reshaping Russia's financial landscape, creating urgency for alternative settlement mechanisms.