The Russian Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank have confirmed they will allow non-professional investors to participate in the cryptocurrency market, with limits on transaction size to minimize risk.
Russia is moving toward a historic turning point in its cryptocurrency policy as key financial authorities in Moscow are preparing to allow ordinary citizens to legally invest in cryptocurrencies. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov confirmed this in an interview with the state news agency TASS and other Russian media outlets on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in the government's approach to digital assets.
Speaking on the Rossiya 24 television channel, Siluanov stated that, according to proposals from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank, allowing this is feasible. However, to minimize risks, the government plans to limit the size of transactions and investments in the cryptocurrency market. The specific parameters of these restrictions are being developed in conjunction with the monetary authority.
A comprehensive legal framework by 2026
Siluanov's statements confirm the Finance Ministry's support for Russia's new cryptocurrency policy, recently announced by the Central Bank, which calls for the creation of a comprehensive legal framework expected to be adopted next summer. According to excerpts from the regulatory concept posted on the CBR website last Tuesday, non-professional investors will be allowed to purchase the most liquidation cryptocurrencies.
The Russian minister noted that cryptocurrency is currently being used primarily by both individuals and businesses for payment purposes. This reflects the reality that access to traditional financial channels and cross-border payment systems in Russia has been severely restricted due to Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.
Earlier this year, the Russian Central Bank proposed a special experimental legal regime that would allow Russian businesses to use crypto assets in international trade. A similar mechanism would also grant access to decentralized digital assets to a small group of highly qualified investors.
However, Siluanov argued that treating crypto assets as an investment and store of value is impractical due to their extremely high volatility, which is why regulators are developing a new concept of crypto assets. He emphasized that the Central Bank and the government, through the Ministry of Finance, have reached a preliminary agreement on the approach to regulating this sector.
According to Siluanov, the future legal framework needs to clearly define which activities are permitted, which are prohibited, and who is entitled to participate in the market. The proposals published by the Central Bank have now been submitted to the government for XEM , with the expectation that the Russian parliament will approve the relevant regulations before July 1, 2026.
Another set of regulations, amending the Criminal Code and related laws to add criminal liability for the unauthorized provision of crypto asset services, is expected to be passed before the same 2027 deadline.
In addition to expanding investor access, a key element of the new strategy is the plan to recognize cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as monetary assets, while also managing cryptocurrency trading through both existing and new infrastructure.
