The Bank of Russia has officially registered the first group of authorized cryptocurrency operators under new regulations that came into force on September 1. The regulator published lists containing four exchange operators and five custodians authorized to conduct digital asset activities in the country.
Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia, is included in the custodian registry. The financial institution plans to introduce its first crypto products on December 1. The bank intends to support Bitcoin, Ether, and USDt through its existing digital platforms, including SberBank Online and SberInvestments.
The list of authorized custodians also features Atomyze, Voltari, Cloud Infrastructure, and VTB Bank. Meanwhile, the exchange operator registry includes T-Invest Lab, Zefir, Sistema-Crypto, and VTB Bank. These entities are now subject to the oversight of the Bank of Russia.
The new regulatory framework was established following a law signed by President Vladimir Putin in August. This legislation creates a legal structure for exchanges, custodians, brokers, and investors. The law maintains the existing prohibition on using cryptocurrencies for payments for goods and services.
