The Russian government has approved a package of legislation regulating cryptocurrencies, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.
The bills impose restrictions on domestic transactions while preserving the ability to use digital assets in foreign economic activity. Under the proposed rules, cryptocurrency transactions must be conducted through licensed intermediaries, and access for unqualified investors will be limited in terms of both the amount invested and the range of assets available.
However, the regulatory framework effectively steers cryptocurrencies toward “external use,” notes Sergei Khestanov, an economist and associate professor at RANEPA.
Residents are permitted to purchase digital assets abroad using foreign accounts, as well as to transfer cryptocurrency acquired through Russian intermediaries to overseas destinations. The office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko emphasizes that the new rules do not restrict international settlements, including corporate foreign economic activity.
Experts note that this model allows cryptocurrencies to continue serving as a cross-border payment tool while maintaining control over the domestic market.