On January 23, 2026, the Bank of Russia detailed plans for a "simple licensing" framework targeting crypto exchanges and digital-asset custodians that avoid the securities market. The regulator aims to move existing crypto businesses from the gray sector into a regulated space while imposing prudential limits on banks' and brokers' exposure to risky crypto assets. The strategy also builds on Russia's 2024 legalization of crypto mining and includes wider investor access by recognizing cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as monetary assets.

A resident of Russia's Belorechensky District had his cryptocurrency seized and sold to repay around 1.7 million rubles (over $22,000) in overdue child support. The regional Federal Bailiff Service said this is the first time a debt in its practice was fully settled with crypto, noting the "On Enforcement Proceedings" law permits seizure of digital financial assets.

On January 20, 2026, Russia's Constitutional Court ruled that owners of legally obtained cryptocurrencies enjoy the same property and judicial protection rights as holders of other assets. The decision arose from a dispute over 1,000 USDT and invalidated a legal provision that made court protection conditional on prior tax notification, except for coins from mining. The judgment is expected to trigger reviews of previously rejected claims and guide lawmakers in refining digital asset regulations, while keeping mandatory reporting in place for mining-related holdings.

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said the agency will begin serial production of 'Zorkiy' satellites in 2026, with more than 300 expected to form the low‑Earth‑orbit Rassvet constellation by 2027. The spacecraft are intended for digital mapping and connectivity in remote areas, and a later Roscosmos post clarified Zorky‑2M is an Earth observation platform rather than a Starlink analogue.

The Bank of Russia is preparing new rules that will require commercial banks to provide detailed reports on Russian citizens' cross-border transactions, including operations related to cryptocurrencies and digital assets. The draft regulation expands the list of reportable international transfers, covering factors such as residency status, transaction method, fees, and separate reporting of crypto trades and mining proceeds, ahead of wider crypto market legislation expected by the summer of 2026.

On January 15, 2026, Russian lawmakers and executives from Sberbank reiterated that effective fraud prevention requires comprehensive regulation of the country's cryptocurrency market. A new draft law based on the Central Bank's policy, which includes a 300,000 ruble annual limit for non-qualified investors, is expected to be adopted by July 1, 2026. Officials argue that legalizing domestic exchanges and introducing clear rules would help block channels used to withdraw stolen funds and reduce the impact of fraudulent schemes.

Tether has registered a trademark in the Russian Federation for its Hadron tokenization platform. According to a review by RIA Novosti of Rospatent records, the application was filed in October 2025 and approved in January 2026, granting rights through October 3, 2035. The move aligns with Russia planning comprehensive crypto rules in the first half of 2026.

Poland's Senate approved corrections to the Crypto-Asset Market Act and sent the bill back to the Sejm. Deputies had cut the supervisory fee from 0.4% to 0.1%, but senators scrapped that change; the levy will rise to 0.5% with a €500 minimum. The Sejm passed the law in September, and the president vetoed it in early December.

In an interview published in early January 2026, Russian economist Oleg Vyugin argued that Bitcoin is unlikely to supplant gold in the coming years because of a highly concentrated market dominated by large holders. He still expects the cryptocurrency to appreciate against major fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, citing its fixed, programmatically limited supply. Vyugin linked Bitcoin’s long-term appeal to its resistance to inflation, while Russia moves toward comprehensive crypto regulation planned by July 2026.