Russia's crypto sector could be legalized by end-2026, central bank official says

Vladimir Chistyakin, a deputy governor of the Central Bank of Russia, said the country's cryptocurrency industry could meet the requirements for legal operation by the end of 2026 as regulation advances on schedule. He noted that key secondary rules are now being drafted, with final adjustments to internal regulations expected to be completed by end-2026. In August, President Vladimir Putin signed legislation creating a legal framework for digital currencies and digital rights, while payments in Bitcoin remain banned. The central bank has authorized public trading of Bitcoin on Russian crypto exchanges. Non-accredited investors can buy Bitcoin and other assets worth up to 300,000 rubles (about $3,582) via a single intermediary, while accredited investors are not subject to this cap. Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, plans to roll out Bitcoin and cryptocurrency wallets and digital-asset custody services in December, projecting first-year transaction volumes of 4 trillion rubles (around $47 billion).