Bank of Russia

Bank of Russia approves Bitcoin, Ether and USDT as the cryptocurrencies available to non-qualified investors from 17 November 2026

The Bank of Russia said on 6 November 2026 that it has approved the list of cryptocurrencies available to non-qualified investors, which includes Bitcoin, Ether and USDT; the related ordinance takes effect on 17 November 2026, and from that date these assets may be publicly traded on exchanges. Non-qualified investors will be able to buy through intermediaries such as brokers, trust managers or crypto exchange offices, in both exchange and over-the-counter markets, with purchases through a single intermediary capped at ₽300,000 per year, while qualified investors will have access to all cryptoassets without restrictions. Any investor must pass the relevant test and read about cryptocurrency investment risks, and the central bank said it chose the assets on market capitalisation, average daily trading volume and a pricing history on foreign exchanges of at least five years.

Bank of Russia