Russia Central Bank to Restrict Retail Crypto Access

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has outlined its plans for regulating the digital asset market in the country. As part of this effort, retail crypto investors will only be allowed to purchase a limited number of cryptocurrencies during the initial phase.

The CBR has specified that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT are the only three assets that will be available to non-professional investors for purchase through licensed intermediaries during the initial stage. This move is expected to take effect on July 1, 2026, with a maximum annual purchase limit of 300,000 rubles per intermediary.

However, qualified investors will have greater access to cryptocurrencies and will not face transaction size limits. They must still pass a risk test and are prohibited from purchasing anonymous coins or tokens with obfuscation mechanisms.

The CBR's decision to restrict retail investors to only three assets is likely aimed at minimizing risks associated with cryptocurrency trading, such as high volatility and exposure to sanctions or decisions by stablecoin issuers. The agency has repeatedly described crypto as a high-risk asset due to these factors.