Russia Approves Retail Bitcoin, Ether, USDT Trading Under New Rules

retail trading — Russia’s central bank has finalized regulations that will allow retail investors to trade Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Tether USDt (USDT) through regulated intermediaries starting November 17, 2026.

The rules permit non-qualified investors to purchase up to 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,700) worth of these cryptocurrencies annually per registered intermediary, which includes brokers, asset managers, and crypto exchange providers. Qualified investors will face no purchase limits, but all traders must first pass a mandatory test.

The finalized directive, signed by President Vladimir Putin in August, establishes Russia’s formal cryptocurrency market under the oversight of the Bank of Russia. The regulations select BTC, ETH, and USDT for eligibility based on market capitalization, trading volume, and a minimum five-year trading history on foreign exchanges.

Moscow Exchange, the country’s largest securities exchange, is preparing to launch cryptocurrency trading on December 1, initially offering these three assets through pilot transactions. Simultaneously, Russia is moving to restrict peer-to-peer crypto trading, which will be prohibited starting July 1, 2027.