Key Takeaways
- Russia’s crypto framework is scheduled for a second Duma reading on July 21, 2026.
- Qualified investors would have no general purchase ceiling, excluding anonymous cryptocurrencies.
- Domestic crypto payments would remain prohibited.
Russia’s plan to regulate cryptocurrencies is moving forward with another vote in parliament, but it hasn’t become law yet. As of July 20, 2026, bill number 1194918-8 was scheduled for a second reading on July 21st. Even if passed by the State Duma for a second time, it would still require a final vote in the Duma, approval from the Federation Council, and the president’s signature to officially become law.
On March 30, 2026, the government authorized a plan and sent it to parliament in early April. This proposal aims to regulate cryptocurrency trading through the Bank of Russia, but it won’t make cryptocurrency an official form of payment.
What the Bill Would Change
Banks, brokers, and trust companies would be allowed to process cryptocurrency transactions. Businesses specializing in crypto exchanges and storage would have to follow different rules. According to the central bank’s plan, people could buy and sell cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, but these wouldn’t be accepted as payment within Russia.
International trade will continue to be treated as a distinct situation. Russia currently allows the use of digital currencies in certain international contracts under a trial legal framework. The updated legislation also includes provisions that permit crypto payments for foreign trade deals, even while maintaining restrictions on other crypto transactions.
Sberbank aims to release a cryptocurrency wallet by December 2026, and Alfa-Bank is considering offering a service to securely hold customers’ crypto.
How the ₽300,000 Retail Limit Would Work
As a researcher, I’ve found that new investors would initially need to complete a risk assessment before they could purchase cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, any cryptocurrencies they *could* buy would have to meet certain liquidity standards. To limit potential losses, purchases would be capped at 300,000 Russian rubles annually, per broker – which currently translates to roughly $3,870.
Clear language is still needed. While the central bank states the limit applies “through one company,” it hasn’t explained if purchases made through multiple authorized firms will be added together. The final regulations need to specify whether the cap refers to each individual company or to all investors in the market.
Experienced investors will have more freedom to buy cryptocurrencies. Once they pass an assessment proving their risk tolerance, they won’t be limited by typical transaction amounts – except when dealing with cryptocurrencies specifically designed for private, untraceable transfers. While some news outlets mentioned a yearly limit of 3 million rubles for these investors, the official rules from the central bank don’t include any such restriction.
Crypto’s Property Status Is Not Entirely New
While some call this bill Russia’s first acknowledgment of cryptocurrency as property, that’s not quite accurate. Back on February 10, 2026, the Duma actually passed a different law that specifically defines digital currency as property for legal purposes – including how it can be frozen or seized during criminal investigations.
This proposal focuses on how markets operate, who’s allowed to participate, and oversight – it’s not about establishing new ownership rights.
Even if the bill passes a second time, it’s not final. Lawmakers could still make changes before a final vote, and it also needs approval from the upper house and the president. New rules requiring people to use approved services for certain transactions, as well as efforts to crack down on illegal cryptocurrency activity, are planned to take effect on July 1, 2027.
The ₽300,000 limit, what qualifies as an acceptable asset, and how it should be reported are still just proposals – they aren’t official requirements yet until the final text becomes law.
We verified this information on July 20, 2026, by checking it against official sources including the State Duma database, the Central Bank of Russia, the Russian government website, and Interfax’s analysis of the updated bill.
This article is just for general information and shouldn’t be considered financial, investment, or legal advice.
2026-07-20 18:29