Russian business in the face of sanctions in recent years has become more active in using digital currencies to implement transactions in foreign markets.
One of the most popular tools was the ruble stablecoin A7A5.
It is widely used by companies and private investors to enter the decentralized finance (DeFi) market and buy the largest stablecoin USDT.
- The ruble token is based on the Tron and Ethereum blockchains, but in parallel, the Russian government has allowed the use of other digital currencies to finance the supply of goods bypassing US and EU restrictions.
At the same time, within the country, bitcoin and other coins are still outside the legal field, and Moscow is ready to solve this problem by mid-2026.
Source: Google Trends
Interest in bitcoin in Russia in the second half of January is increasing, despite the decline in the value of the leading digital currency.
According to Google Trends, the number of search queries on the Internet on topics related to BTC has been growing since January 28.
Most often, residents of Ingushetia, the Irkutsk region, Khakassia, Moscow and the Ivanovo region are interested in bitcoin and its prospects.
At the end of last year, the Bank of Russia presented own concept for regulating cryptocurrencies. It can form the basis of legislation that the State Duma expects to adopt until July 1, 2026.
The main theses:
- The Central Bank wants to limit the opportunities of retail investors in the digital asset market. Professional investors will be given maximum freedom.
- The state is ready to launch licensing of cryptocurrency exchanges and is working out mechanisms for controlling such companies.
- The Russian authorities allowed the use of virtual currencies as a settlement tool in foreign markets. But within the country, payment for goods and services using BTC and other coins is prohibited, and such a moratorium will continue.
Russian investors will be able to legally buy and sell crypto
In an interview with the Parliamentary newspaper in late January, the head of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, Anatoly Aksakov announced the intention of parliament to adopt a bill to regulate digital currencies by mid-2026.
If initially the state expected to allow admission to bitcoin and altcoins only to professional investors who confirmed their qualifications, now retail traders will also be able to legally buy and sell digital currencies.
- At the end of June, the final version of the bill on control over the circulation of cryptocurrencies should be submitted to the State Duma for voting, Anatoly Aksakov stressed.
While considering options for introducing an annual limit for retail investors in the amount of 300,000 rubles ($3,900) for operations with cryptocurrencies.
The Finance Ministry is ready to increase this limit, but only after appropriate consultations with the Bank of Russia and law enforcement agencies.
Source: MEXC
Professional investors will be able to buy any virtual currencies, and make an unlimited number of transactions. However, the Russian authorities will ban buying private altcoins, such as Zcash and Monero.
- If the law is passed, Russians will be able to legally buy bitcoin and other coins on any cryptocurrency exchange, including MEXC.
MEXC platform offers favorable terms of service, it recently launched lending secured by BTC and other digital currencies.
The central bank may make a list that will include the country’s most popular crypto exchanges, on which Russians will be able to buy and sell bitcoin, ether, Solana and TonCoin.
In this list may be and MEXC, where users are available all of the above coins.
Key findings:
- The Russian authorities promise to accelerate the introduction of cryptocurrencies in the legal field. The bill can be adopted by the State Duma in the middle of this year.
- If initially the Central Bank and the government wanted to allow only qualified investors to trade, now ordinary citizens will be able to perform operations with digital assets, but within the permissible limit.
- The emergence of a regulatory framework will create conditions for a more active transition of Russians to digital currencies, interest in which has been growing in the country in recent years.
Cryptocurrency as a tool for cross-border settlements
The Russian authorities allow the use of cryptocurrency in external payments, but it is prohibited to pay for goods and services inside the country.
- The state plans to enshrine a moratorium on domestic payments with digital currency in a bill that will be adopted in the middle of this year.
In parallel, the question of legalizing cryptocurrency exchanges and exchanges arises. The State Duma recognized the need to adopt legislation that will control the activities of platforms providing token exchange services.
The mechanism for the gradual legalization of cryptocurrency exchanges will be based on the concept of the Bank of Russia on regulating digital asset market. He presented it in December last year.
The document notes that that the infrastructure for transactions with virtual currencies should include not only exchanges, but also brokers and trust managers. All of them must have the necessary license.
Source: HashRate Index
- The legislation should also facilitate the removal of mining from the gray zone.
According to the Hashrate Index, Russia ranks second in the ranking of the largest bitcoin miners. It controls more than 16% of the BTC hashrate, but many miners still work in the gray zone.
The state plans to toughen responsibility for underground mining in order to force Russians who mine cryptocurrency to work within the legal framework.
Key findings:
- Using cryptocurrency in the domestic market to pay for goods and services is prohibited. The Russian authorities allow it to be used only in cross-border settlements.
- As part of the legalization of the market, the state will launch a mechanism for licensing exchanges and other services. But while the government and the Central Bank are only discussing options for legalizing crypto companies.
- Particular attention will be paid to the removal of mining from the gray zone. The authorities are ready, if necessary, to tighten responsibility for citizens who refuse to register in the register of miners and pay taxes.
Conclusion
- Russia plans to join the list of states regulating the circulation of digital currencies.
- Interest in this tool is growing, despite the fact that bitcoin has faced pressure in recent weeks and was forced to retreat below $85,000.
- By July 2026, deputies of the State Duma expect to adopt a bill on the regulation of virtual currencies.
- Particular attention will be paid to control over retail investors and miners. The Russian authorities are interested in the release of miners from the shadows so that companies mining cryptocurrency work within the legal framework.
- Initially, the government and the Central Bank planned to introduce an annual limit for retail investors in the amount of 300,000 rubles for operations with bitcoin and other coins. But the Ministry of Finance is ready after coordination with law enforcement agencies to soften this requirement.
- Qualified investors will get maximum freedom, but the state will prohibit all groups of traders from buying private altcoins.
- An important point of legislation will be the legalization of cryptocurrency exchanges and exchangers. The list of platforms that can gain a foothold in the Russian market can be replenished by MEXC.
Disclaimer: This information is not investment, taxation, legal, financial, accounting, advisory or any other related services advice, nor is it advice to buy, sell or hold any assets. MEXC Training provides information for reference purposes only and is not investment advice. Please make sure you fully understand all risks and exercise caution when investing. The platform is not responsible for users’ investment decisions.
Join MEXC and Get up to $10,000 Bonus!
Sign Up
