Russia central bank confirms BTC, ETH and USDT for local trading

Russia’s Central Bank (CBR) confirmed that, under the upcoming law “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights,” non-qualified retail investors will be allowed to buy only BTC, ETH and USDT. The shortlist is designed to cover the most liquid assets, with the CBR opposing any near-term expansion beyond BTC, ETH and USDT. The law is expected to take effect by July 1, 2026. CBR deputy governor Vladimir Chistyukhin told RBC Radio the CBR does not plan to widen the scope during the initial period after the rules start. The regulator also kept the previously announced annual investment cap at 300,000 rubles (about $4,000) per person, citing risks from crypto volatility and potential fund freezes. Admission of coins for non-qualified investors will follow strict criteria, including: average market cap above 5 trillion rubles over the past two years, average daily trading volume above 1 trillion rubles, and at least five years of trading history prior to approval. For the future, the CBR signaled potential additions mainly for domestic non-dollar stablecoins to reduce “discrimination” versus foreign stablecoins. A ruble-pegged token, A7A5, was referenced indirectly as a leading non-dollar stablecoin, linked to large transaction volumes reported by CertiK. Also mentioned: the CBR views Tether-linked risks as a reason not to raise limits, referencing prior USDT freezes connected to sanctioned parties.