The Central Bank of Russia presented a draft with new rules for the regulated trading, custody, and settlement of cryptocurrencies. The proposal establishes financial and operational requirements for companies operating in these segments.
Under the proposed rules, digital depositories may need to maintain minimum net worth between ₽50 million and ₽250 million. The required amount will depend on the activities performed, including operations with public blockchains and services related to post-trade settlement.
The proposal also provides for financial requirements for operators of electronic platforms responsible for settling transactions involving digital financial assets. The intention is to establish a more defined framework for companies participating in the crypto market infrastructure.
In addition to the capital requirements, the Bank of Russia included rules for the registration of digital assets and the storage of customer information. The text also addresses account management and access control mechanisms.
According to the regulator, digital depositories must follow principles similar to those used by traditional securities depositories. Oversight will be linked to a central register administered by the Bank of Russia itself.
Preliminary versions of the rules were made available for public consultation. The publication is part of the Russian procedure for assessing regulatory impact before the final adoption of the rules.
The proposals come after Russia established broad legislation for the cryptocurrency market. The new framework creates rules for trading and custody, in addition to establishing licensing for providers of crypto-related services.
The legislation also defines requirements for brokers, exchanges, and custodians, restricting certain operations to authorized participants. At the same time, it establishes conditions for investor participation in the Russian market.
The law approved by parliament in early July allows cryptocurrencies to be used in international commercial transactions. However, digital assets remain prohibited as a means of payment within Russian territory.
Most of the new provisions are expected to come into force on 1 September 2026. Full compliance with the requirements is scheduled for July 2027, while additional anti-fraud measures are to be implemented later that year.