The Bank of Russia has added Bitcoin, Ether and Tether’s USDT stablecoin to the list of crypto assets eligible for public trading on domestic exchanges. Russian investors will be able to buy and sell these assets through the country’s regulated market.
Trading will not begin immediately. The decision appears in a draft regulation that remains open for public consultation, while exchanges and intermediaries still need to complete the technical preparations.
Bitcoin, Ether and USDT met the requirements
According to the Bank of Russia’s August 11 announcement, the regulator selected eligible cryptocurrencies using three main criteria. It considered market capitalization, average daily trading volume and pricing history on foreign platforms.
A crypto asset must have at least five years of pricing history on foreign exchanges to qualify. Russia’s new crypto law also requires an average market capitalization above 5 trillion rubles and an average daily trading volume exceeding 1 trillion rubles over the previous two years.
Based on these criteria, Bitcoin, Ether and USDT became the three liquid assets available to non-qualified investors. Smaller altcoins were excluded from the initial list.
The Bank of Russia may temporarily approve other cryptocurrencies for public trading for periods of up to six months. Qualified investors will be able to purchase any cryptocurrencies offered on exchange or over-the-counter markets without an investment cap.
Retail investors face a 300,000-ruble limit
The new rules introduce an annual purchase limit of 300,000 rubles for non-qualified investors. The limit will apply separately to each broker, crypto exchange or asset manager.
Investors must pass a knowledge test before making transactions. Intermediaries will also need to inform customers about crypto market volatility and the risk of losing their capital.
The regulator aims to restrict retail access to highly volatile tokens with insufficient liquidity. Bitcoin, Ether and the dollar-backed USDT will therefore dominate the market during its initial phase.
The draft regulation will remain open for public consultation until August 24. The Bank of Russia will review the submitted feedback before publishing the final rules.
Crypto trading could begin in November
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the country’s Digital Currencies and Digital Rights law on August 4. Most of the legislation will take effect on September 1, 2026.
The law classifies cryptocurrencies as property and allows investors to defend their ownership rights in court. It also creates a legal framework for crypto trading, custody and authorized cross-border transactions.
However, using cryptocurrencies to pay for goods and services within Russia will remain prohibited. The new framework permits crypto assets for investment purposes without recognizing them as legal tender.
Bank of Russia First Deputy Governor Vladimir Chistyukhin said regulated crypto transactions could begin in November. The Moscow Exchange also aims to launch Bitcoin, Ether and USDT trading before the end of 2026.
Licensing requirements will take effect on July 1, 2027. From that date, brokers, crypto exchanges and digital custody providers will need authorization from the Bank of Russia to operate.
Meta Title: Russia Approves Bitcoin, Ether and USDT Trading
Meta Description: The Bank of Russia has approved Bitcoin, Ether and USDT for trading on domestic exchanges under its new regulated crypto framework.
Keywords: Russia, Bitcoin, Ether, USDT, Bank of Russia, cryptocurrency, Moscow Exchange
