Vladimir Putin signs Russia's first comprehensive crypto law

Vladimir Putin Russia cryptocurrency regulation foreign trade payments licensing

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that creates the country’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The legislation authorises the use of crypto assets for payments in foreign‑trade contracts and for transactions involving mining‑derived tokens and digital securities, while maintaining a ban on domestic payments with crypto.

The law requires all crypto exchanges, brokers, asset managers and digital depositaries to obtain a licence from the Central Bank of Russia. It also sets investor safeguards: non‑accredited investors may buy up to 300,000 roubles of crypto per year through intermediaries after passing a knowledge test, whereas accredited investors face no limit. Banks are empowered to block suspicious crypto transfers.

Key dates are 1 September 2026 for the main provisions and 1 July 2027 for the requirement that only entities listed in the state register with at least 15 million roubles of capital may conduct crypto trading. The law also imposes advertising restrictions and mandates risk warnings for crypto‑related promotions.

Entities: Central Bank of Russia · Mining sector · Russia · Russian Ministry of Finance · Russian crypto exchanges · Russian investors · Vladimir Putin · cryptocurrency · foreign trade

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] The law permits the use of cryptocurrencies for payments in foreign‑trade contracts. (multiple articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The law’s main provisions become effective on 1 September 2026. (multiple articles)
[● 2 SOURCES] From 1 July 2027 only entities registered in the state register with at least 15 million roubles of capital may conduct crypto trading. (multiple articles)
[● 2 SOURCES] Banks are authorized to block suspicious cryptocurrency transactions and may reject transfers they deem unauthorized. (multiple articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] Domestic payments with cryptocurrencies remain prohibited. (multiple articles)
[● 2 SOURCES] Non‑accredited investors may purchase up to 300,000 roubles of crypto per year through intermediaries after passing a knowledge test. (multiple articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] Crypto exchanges, brokers, asset managers and digital depositaries must be licensed by the Central Bank of Russia. (multiple articles)
[● 7 SOURCES] Vladimir Putin signed a law legalising cryptocurrency transactions in Russia. (multiple articles)