Bank of Russia Designates Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT as Approved Cryptocurrencies for Trading

• The Bank of Russia has designated Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT as eligible assets for trading on regulated cryptocurrency exchanges.

Some U.S. legislators show little urgency in advancing the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, while Russia has pursued a contrasting approach.

After President Vladimir Putin signed Russia’s digital asset market structure bill earlier this month, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, commonly known as the Bank of Russia, has swiftly drafted a directive that could enable smoother trading of Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether’s USDT stablecoin.

Russia’s New Law on Digital Assets

Last week, President Putin signed the bill titled ‘On Digital Currencies and Digital Rights,’ which establishes comprehensive regulations covering crypto activities such as trading, custody, redemption, and conversion.

The legislation also classifies crypto assets as property and investment assets, implements investor safeguards, and imposes severe penalties for violations. It provides a grace period for individuals and institutions affected by the provisions until full enforcement on July 1, 2027.

Bank of Russia Names Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT as Regulated Crypto for Trading

Building on recent developments, the Bank of Russia has included Bitcoin, Ether, and the USDT stablecoin in its list of cryptocurrencies eligible for public trading on exchanges. The assets were selected based on market capitalization, trading volume, price history on foreign exchanges, and resilience over the past five years.

The central bank intends to expand its list to include additional crypto assets and has invited the public, particularly industry stakeholders, to submit comments and suggestions by August 24.

Why This Matters

Russia’s new law classifies crypto investors into two categories—non‑qualified and qualified—allowing regulators to align products, services, and safeguards with each group’s financial literacy, experience, and risk profile.

Qualified investors are those who demonstrate verified trading experience and a substantial capital base. They benefit from unlimited transaction limits and can access a broad range of cryptocurrencies and tokens that represent ownership of real‑world assets.

Non‑qualified individuals may only trade highly liquid digital assets and are limited to an annual purchase amount of 300,000 rubles through a single intermediary.

The central bank’s explicit mention of BTC, ETH, and USDT enables retail investors to access these top‑tier liquid assets irrespective of their investor classification. By naming them, the regulator establishes a clear operational sandbox, encouraging financial institutions to develop compliant infrastructure that meets retail demand for these assets.

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