Russia to Ban Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Trading by Mid-2027

peer-to-peer Bitcoin trading — Russia’s central bank has confirmed a forthcoming ban on peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency trading, forcing all transactions onto regulated platforms starting July 1, 2027.

The Bank of Russia announced that after the deadline, citizens will no longer be permitted to buy and sell digital assets directly with one another. All cryptocurrency trading must be conducted through licensed brokers or exchanges that are approved by the central bank.

The move represents a significant tightening of Russia’s regulatory framework for digital assets, shifting control away from decentralized, person-to-person transactions. It aims to bring crypto activity under the oversight of sanctioned financial intermediaries.

This policy gives Russian crypto users a transition period of roughly nine months to continue using P2P platforms before the ban takes full effect. The central bank’s directive is part of broader efforts to monitor and regulate the flow of digital currencies within the country’s financial system.