The entry into force of the new law, which aims to regulate cryptocurrency transactions in Russia, has been postponed. Officials of the Russian Ministry of Finance announced that the regulation has been largely completed in the preparation phase, but the July 1 target will be missed. The bill is expected to pave the way for legal investment in crypto assets while also limiting advertising activities.
The legislative calendar is behind the planned date
Aleksey Yakovlev, Head of the Financial Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance in Moscow, said that the draft law on digital money and digital rights is ready for evaluation, but the process will proceed with a limited delay. The bill awaits the approval of the relevant committee before being submitted for second reading in the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Yakovlev stated that the regulation is generally ready, that they expect approval from the Duma’s financial markets committee in a short time, and then the second reading will be made.
Authorities state that it seems difficult to adopt the law before July 1, but progress can be made close to this date. It was stated that the bill is in the final preparation stage and that comprehensive changes are not expected to be made before it comes to the Duma agenda in the next few weeks.
In order for the law to come into force, the second and third readings in the Duma must be completed, followed by the approval of the Federation Council and, in the final stage, the signature of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The State Duma first discussed the bill in April. In previous official statements, it was envisaged that the regulation would come into force on July 1 at the latest.
Comprehensive framework will regulate investment and trading
The new legislation is based on the policy approach announced by the Bank of Russia in December 2025. Arrangement; It will cover various transactions related to digital assets, including investing, clearing and trading. The Bank of Russia, as the country’s monetary authority and the main regulator of financial markets, plans to publish secondary rules in this area in the summer.
The draft framework envisages a broader model that does not limit access to crypto assets only to a narrow group of qualified investors. Accordingly, ordinary Russian citizens will be able to legally purchase crypto assets through licensed brokerage firms. However, the annual upper limit of this investment will be below $4,000.
It is stated that non-professional investors can only access major stablecoins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT and USDC. Domestic transactions carried out without the presence of a stock exchange, brokerage firm, depository institution or similar institutions authorized by the Bank of Russia will be prohibited. This restriction also covers transfers to individual custody wallets.
| Subject | Planned editing |
|---|---|
| Effective calendar | July 1 target was missed |
| Individual investment limit | Under $4,000 per year |
| Accessible assets | Major assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, USDC |
| unauthorized transactions | Domestic transfers without an authorized intermediary will be prohibited |
There are also restrictions on crypto ads
Russian authorities are preparing to ban crypto asset advertisements along with the regulation. According to the draft, it will not be possible to use certain cryptocurrency names such as Bitcoin in advertisements, videos and similar promotional content. These changes are planned to be added to the text before the second reading of the bill.
Ekaterina Lozgacheva, Head of the Department of Strategic Financial Market Development of the Central Bank of Russia, emphasized that services can be promoted, but cryptocurrencies should not be included in direct advertisements due to their high risk.
Chairman of the Parliament’s Financial Markets Committee, Anatoly Aksakov, also attended the St. Petersburg conference this week. He confirmed the upcoming restrictions at the St. Petersburg International Law Forum. Aksakov said that companies operating in the sector can announce that they work in the crypto field, but cannot announce the specific activities they offer.
