Bank of Russia Proposes Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT for Regulated Exchange Trading

Russia’s central bank has proposed allowing Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT on regulated exchanges, with annual purchase limits for non-qualified investors and mandatory risk testing.

Bank of Russia Proposes Three Crypto Assets

The Bank of Russia has proposed Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether’s USDT for public trading on regulated exchanges. The proposal follows a new law that gives the central bank authority to decide which digital currencies can enter organized markets.

The regulator selected the three assets using market capitalization, average daily trading volume and price history on foreign exchanges. In addition, eligible assets must have at least five years of trading history in overseas markets.

Under the draft rules, non-qualified investors could buy up to 300,000 rubles worth of eligible crypto each year through each intermediary. These intermediaries could include brokers, crypto exchanges and asset managers.

Retail Investors Face Crypto Purchase Limits

The proposed annual limit would apply separately to each intermediary used by a non-qualified investor. However, qualified investors would not face the same purchase restriction for cryptocurrencies available through exchange and over-the-counter markets.

At the same time, the Bank of Russia plans to require all investors to complete a test before trading crypto assets. Investors would also need to review the risks linked to cryptocurrency investments regardless of their qualification status.

The central bank said the measures aim to protect non-qualified investors from sharp and unpredictable cryptocurrency price movements. Moreover, the proposed framework would limit retail access to assets that meet the regulator’s liquidity and market-history requirements.

Russia Moves Toward Regulated Crypto Trading

The proposal follows legislation signed by President Vladimir Putin on August 4. That law establishes rules for cryptocurrency circulation in Russia, including purchases through licensed intermediaries, exchange trading, clearing and digital asset depositories.

The law is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, although some provisions have separate effective dates. Moreover, a requirement for cryptocurrency transactions to use licensed subsidiaries will begin on July 1, 2027.

The Bank of Russia is accepting comments and proposals on the draft rules until August 24. After reviewing submissions, the regulator can determine the final requirements for crypto assets traded through regulated markets.

If you want, the legislative shift aligns with the broader global trend toward stricter, legally compliant crypto exchanges under the MiCA framework.