Russia Classifies Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP as Legal Property Assets

The Russian State Duma has unveiled a pre‑planned initiative to classify major cryptocurrencies as legal property.

Should the bill become law, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) and XRP would be eligible for commercial trading by merchants, while individual investors would face an annual cap of 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,800).

Regulatory Framework Establishes Tiered Investment Access

Consequently, ordinary Russian residents will remain unable to use XRP or other major cryptocurrencies for retail purchases or online payments. These assets will be classified primarily as investment vehicles or tools for cross‑border transactions.

The new legislation establishes a tiered framework for retail participants. After passing a knowledge assessment, individuals may acquire up to 3 million rubles worth of cryptocurrency and transfer as much as 1 million rubles abroad. President Vladimir Putin’s approval of the mining bill in 2024 underscores Russia’s approach of regulated experimentation rather than outright prohibition.

International traders gain expanded flexibility, while routine participants benefit from relaxed disclosure rules; reporting obligations now emphasize aggregate balances and transaction volumes rather than individual wallet addresses.

All such transactions will be monitored by the Central Bank of Russia, with implementation scheduled for September 1, 2026. Notably, the framework adopts a model comparable to the SWIFT network.

Global Economies Adopt Divergent Crypto Strategies

A leading European financial institution previously excluded Russian entities from its cross‑border payment network in 2022. In 2023, it launched a multi‑chain ledger dedicated to cross‑border transactions. Similarly, other major economies worldwide are advancing crypto adoption.

For example, Japan has finalized its own digital‑asset regulatory framework, designating Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and XRP as formal financial instruments.

Nevertheless, most crypto market participants are closely watching the Clarity Act, which proposes that the U.S. government might launch a regulatory framework by August 2026. This prospect appears increasingly viable following the White House’s recent agreement on a key ethics package.

In contrast, the United States views cryptocurrency primarily as an alternative investment class and a conduit for broader public money transfers. Moreover, the U.S. hosts several domestic stablecoins, such as USDC and RLUSD, which are actively employed in tokenization markets.

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