The Bank of Russia announced requirements for crypto exchanges and exchangers, 2026/01/22 20:28:14

Director of the Department of Strategic Development of the Financial Market of the Bank of Russia Ekaterina Lozgacheva told what requirements her department is going to impose on crypto exchanges and crypto exchangers.

If crypto exchangers and digital depositories do not plan to work with securities, then the license for them “will be simple” and will not contain requirements related to the stock market, a representative of the financial regulator promised. She assured that the Central Bank wants to help sell the mined cryptocurrency both in Russia and abroad.  

For banks and brokers that want to work with digital currencies, “special prudential requirements will be introduced to limit these institutions,” Lozgacheva said. According to her, the restrictions will make it possible to secure the traditional financial activities of financial institutions in the event that any risks arise during transactions with cryptocurrencies. 

The Central Bank hopes that the development of amendments to the legislation on the regulation of cryptocurrencies will be completed before July 1. From July 1, 2027, the Central Bank wants to establish liability for the illegal activities of intermediaries in the cryptocurrency market – similar to the already existing rules for brokers and banks.

At the end of December, the Bank of Russia sent to the government a draft concept for regulating the cryptocurrency market. It is proposed to organize transactions with cryptocurrencies primarily through the already existing financial infrastructure – stock exchanges and brokerage companies. The Central Bank wants to allow non-professional investors to buy digital currencies in an amount of no more than 300 000 rubles per year. However, the Ministry of Finance reported that the amount is not final and during the discussion may change either down or up.