President Putin Signs Law Regulating Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Impacting Russian Investors
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law that regulates cryptocurrency exchanges, allowing both retail and qualified investors to purchase cryptocurrencies through certified financial intermediaries. The law, which will take effect on September 1, 2026, sets out rules for crypto exchanges, digital depositories, brokers, asset managers, organized trading platforms, and clearing providers. However, it maintains a ban on using cryptocurrency as a payment method within Russia. Non-qualified investors will be limited to purchasing only approved crypto-assets, with an annual cap of 300,000 rubles per intermediary. Qualified investors, on the other hand, can trade larger amounts after passing a suitability test. The law also requires market operators to comply with licensing and capital requirements, with crypto-exchange providers needing to register and hold a minimum equity capital of 15 million rubles. 
