AKP Phnom Penh, 5 August, 2026--
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed Russia's first law that provides comprehensive regulation for the circulation of digital currencies and digital rights in the country.
The document sets out rules for crypto exchanges, digital depositories and market participants, and also defines conditions for investors to purchase cryptocurrencies.
The legislation governs the organization, accounting, and custody of digital currencies and foreign digital instruments. It also regulates cryptocurrency mining, the issuance and circulation of digital rights, and the activities of information system operators issuing digital financial assets. Furthermore, the law sets standards for digital currency exchange providers, digital depositories, brokers, management companies, trade organizers, and clearing houses.
According to the law, only the organizations included in a special government registry will be permitted to carry out digital currency exchange activities after July 1, 2027. The minimum amount of own funds for such organizations must be 15 million rubles (about 186,000 U.S. dollars). Such entities will also have to join a self-regulatory body in the financial market.
Non-accredited investors will be able to purchase the most liquid cryptocurrencies via intermediaries, with an annual cap of 300,000 rubles per intermediary. Accredited investors may acquire any cryptocurrencies without such limits. By the new rules, banks are empowered to block suspicious crypto-related transactions.
Digital currency exchange activity is defined as the systematic execution of cryptocurrency buy and sell transactions in one's own name and for one's own account outside organized trading. The criterion for systematic execution is defined as concluding two or more transactions within a single month for a total amount exceeding 3.5 million rubles.
The new regulations specify that advertising of cryptocurrency investment services must warn about the high risks and potential financial losses that may result from such transactions. It must also offer the opportunity to review the possible risks and inform about the existence of legal restrictions regarding such operations.
The law retains the ban on using digital currencies and digital rights as a form of payment within Russian territory and prohibits relevant advertising.
The main part of the law will take effect on Sept. 1, and certain provisions will take effect from July 1, 2027.

AKP-Xinhua