The Bank of Russia has added 17 firms to its crypto exchange register since 6 October, including Sberbank and VTB. VTB plans to open crypto trading to retail investors in November; Sberbank is targeting 1 December. Retail buyers will be limited to 300,000 roubles a year per intermediary, while qualified investors face no cap.
- Russia's central bank is expanding its list of approved crypto exchange providers, including major banks like Sberbank and VTB, as part of new regulations for digital assets.
- Sberbank and VTB are preparing to offer cryptocurrency trading to retail investors by late 2026, with limitations for non-qualified investors and no caps for qualified ones.
- The new framework allows for crypto use in cross-border settlements for exporters and importers, while peer-to-peer trading through Russian bank accounts will be phased out by mid-2027.
Topics: Jurisdictions, Legal regulatory, Institutional adoption, Emerging hubs, Securities law classification, Banking depository pilots
Tags: #bankofrussia #sberbank #vtb #cryptoexchange #digitalcurrency #retailinvestors #qualifiedinvestors #crossbordersettlements #stablecoin #ttechnologies