Russia to Launch Regulated Crypto Market by Year-End
Sberbank targets 4 trillion rubles in first-year volume as Russia finalizes digital asset rules by 2026.
Key points
- Russia will implement a regulated crypto market by the end of 2026 according to central bank officials.
- Sberbank expects to generate four trillion rubles in trading volume in its first year of crypto operations.
- Retail investors are capped at 300,000 rubles in bitcoin purchases through a single intermediary.
Russia plans to operate a legal crypto market by the end of 2026. Central bank deputy governor Vladimir Chistyukhin confirmed that regulatory work is proceeding on schedule.
The framework restricts retail bitcoin purchases to 300,000 rubles per intermediary. Qualified investors face no such cap, creating a tiered access structure for domestic trading.
Sberbank targets four trillion rubles in volume
Sberbank will launch a bitcoin wallet and custody service by December. The bank projects four trillion rubles in trading volume during the first year of operations.
This move positions traditional banks as the primary gatekeepers for crypto assets. It shifts market activity from offshore gray areas into supervised domestic channels.
Payment restrictions remain intact for domestic use
Domestic bitcoin payments remain banned under current legislation. The central bank permits public trading on exchanges only under specific defined conditions.
Exceptions exist for international settlement to ease sanctions pressure. This distinction treats digital assets as controlled infrastructure rather than open payment tools.
Regulatory rules may extend through 2026
Subordinate regulations supporting the August law are still being refined. Chistyukhin indicated that final adjustments could continue until the end of 2026.
Market access depends on the speed of these implementation details. Licensed intermediaries must be authorized before services can officially launch to the public.
