President Vladimir Putin has officially signed Law No. 1194918-8, titled ‘On Digital Currencies and Digital Rights’. The regulation, approved by the State Duma parliament after its final reading at the end of July 2026, immediately sets a limit for retail market participants. Every Russian retail investor is now only allowed to buy crypto assets with a maximum quota of 300,000 rubles per year for each investment intermediary entity. This amount is equivalent to $3,700 or approximately Rp 55 million.
This enactment makes the bill one of the most comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks ever published by Russia. All participants in the digital asset market ecosystem, including exchanges, brokers, custodians, and other crypto service providers, are now required to operate under the same legal foundation.
Accredited Status Opens a Different Path
Behind the strict limits for small investors, this law creates a completely different path of treatment for large investors. Investors holding qualified status or an accredited license are exempted from the obligation to follow the 300,000 rubles per year cap. They enjoy complete freedom to purchase any type of crypto asset without being bound by transaction value limits.
To oversee this two-tier system, the Bank of Russia has taken full control. The Central Bank has been officially designated as the sole regulator holding the authority to issue derivative rules. The institution is also tasked with screening and determining which crypto assets qualify to be offered to Russian citizens.
Ban on Payments for Goods Remains in Place
Although the state has begun to provide legal legitimacy for crypto exchange and custody infrastructure, the position of digital coins in Russia’s daily economic circulation remains unchanged. The new law maintains the old rule that strictly prohibits the use of crypto for payments of goods and services within the country. Digital assets continue to be recognized purely as commodity investment instruments, not exchange instruments.
All core provisions of this regulatory framework are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026. The Russian government is also providing a different implementation grace period for rules related to non-resident depository services, which will only be implemented on July 1, 2027. For citizens with limited capital, this document signed by Putin clarifies one basic reality: their purchasing power regarding global financial innovation is now locked by state regulations.
Reported by Cointelegraph.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
