Russia's central bank permits retail trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT with a 300,000‑ruble annual cap
The Bank of Russia approved retail investors to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT on exchanges starting 17 November. Each non‑qualified investor may purchase up to 300,000 rubles per intermediary per year, while qualified investors face no limit. The rule was published in Directive No. 7441‑U, signed by Governor Elvira Nabiullina, and the Moscow Exchange plans to launch pilot trading of the three assets on 1 December.
Why it matters
The decision opens the Russian retail market to major cryptocurrencies, potentially increasing domestic demand despite the purchase cap. The cap limits individual exposure, so any surge in trading volume will be spread across many small investors.
Key facts
- 1Retail trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT will be allowed from 17 November. cryptonews.net
- 2The annual purchase limit per intermediary for non‑qualified investors is 300,000 rubles. cryptonews.net
- 3Qualified investors are not subject to the purchase limit. coingape.com
- 4Directive No. 7441‑U was signed by Governor Elvira Nabiullina on 11 September. tokenist.com
- 5The Moscow Exchange intends to start pilot trading of BTC, ETH and USDT on 1 December. tokenist.com
- 6Twenty‑five licensed crypto exchangers, including Sberbank and VTB, are listed by the central bank. tokenist.com
Open questions
- The USD equivalent of the 300,000‑ruble cap is reported as $3,700 in material 2 and $3,668 in material 3.
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 3 of 3 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.