The Central Bank of Russia has authorized the trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT on organized markets. The new regulations, which take effect on November 17, 2026, establish a framework for retail investors to access these digital assets through licensed intermediaries.
Non-qualified investors are permitted to purchase these specific cryptocurrencies, provided they pass a mandatory knowledge test. The annual investment limit for such individuals is set at 300,000 ₽ per intermediary. Qualified investors remain exempt from these restrictions.
The regulator has defined strict criteria for including digital currencies in the authorized list. These include a minimum average market capitalization of 5 ₽ trillion and a daily trading volume exceeding 1 ₽ trillion over the two years preceding inclusion.
Intermediaries, including brokers and digital depositories, are responsible for conducting the mandatory testing of retail clients. A successful test result remains valid for one year from the date of the assessment or the last transaction performed by the investor.
