The Bank of Russia has for the first time presented a detailed plan for regulating the cryptocurrency market. From 2026, all crypto intermediaries — exchanges, exchangers, brokers, wallets and other operators — will be required to obtain a CBR license. As early as 2027, any cryptocurrency transactions outside this licensed system will be considered illegal and may entail administrative or even criminal liability.
The regulator intends to create a completely transparent crypto market infrastructure where all participants will be identified and the sources of funds will be controlled. Foreign platforms working with Russian users will have to adapt to the new requirements or leave the market.
Today, there are various kinds of exchange points where you can bring rubles and a cryptocurrency transfer will be made. It seems to us that the task of the government, the Central Bank, is to create legislation as quickly as possible that directly describes and whitewashes this area, describes the rules for conducting operations so that no laundering or terrorism financing operations pass through it. Then it is quite possible that we will see that settlements, international settlements in cryptocurrencies in the legal space according to established criteria, are developing very actively.
The Central Bank is effectively building a mechanism for complete control over crypto turnover in the country. For Russians, only one path will remain legal — to conduct transactions through licensed intermediaries. Access to foreign exchanges that have not been licensed may be blocked.
Experts note that the new rules will not be a direct ban on cryptocurrencies, but will actually confine the market to national jurisdiction and put all crypto operations under state supervision.
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