Starting July 1, 2027, Russia will prohibit direct peer-to-peer cryptocurrency transactions between individuals. The Bank of Russia confirmed that after this date, all such trades must be conducted through authorized intermediaries.
Current regulations already forbid the transfer of digital assets from accounts to non-custodial or self-custodial wallets. Additionally, the use of cryptocurrency for payments for goods and services remains prohibited in the country.
The central bank is expanding its oversight of the crypto market. On Monday, the regulator authorized Sberbank to provide cryptocurrency exchange services, following the bank's earlier approval as a digital asset custodian.
New rules effective since September 1, 2026, brought exchange operators and custodians under the supervision of the Bank of Russia. Industry experts have noted that enforcing restrictions on P2P trading and non-custodial wallets may present significant challenges.
