Russia’s State Duma resolves on a cryptocurrency bill today! Retail investors must hold for at least 300,000 rubles, with the bill taking effect as soon as 9/1.

Russia’s long-running crypto regulatory deadlock is about to be broken. According to the foreign media outlet Cointelegraph, the Russian State Duma will hold its final deliberation (second and third readings) today (the 21st) on the bill “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights.” The bill not only paves the way for the legal use of crypto assets in cross-border trade, but also sets strict purchase and transfer limits for both general retail users and qualified investors. If the new rules pass successfully, they are expected to officially take effect on September 1 this year.
(Backgrounder: Russia pushes for crypto legalization: Retail users limited to buying 300,000 rubles per year, embracing cross-border settlement with digital assets)
(Additional context: The United States warns: Russia plans to launch armed actions against Poland to test NATO’s resolve for collective defense)

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• Break through sanctions blockades, allow cross-border trade payments
• Strict investment tiering: Retail users’ annual limit 300,000 rubles
• Set to roll out in September; Russia’s crypto legalization takes a major step

Faced with harsh Western financial sanctions, the Russian government is accelerating the development of its own dedicated digital asset regulatory framework, trying to break through in international trade through cryptocurrencies. On July 21 (Taipei time), according to Cointelegraph, the Russian State Duma will hold the final vote today on the bill “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights” numbered 1194918-8, for its second and third readings.

Break through sanctions blockades, allow cross-border trade payments

For years, there has been ongoing debate within the Russian government about how to regulate cryptocurrencies. But as international financial sanctions have intensified, Russia has actively sought ways to bypass the traditional financial system. The core purpose of this bill is to establish a clear legal framework for crypto-related activities within Russia—especially for cross-border payments and trade applications.

Anatoly Aksakov, chair of the Financial Markets Committee of the State Duma, said the bill will create favorable conditions for the legal use of cryptocurrencies within Russia. Notably, the new rules will allow foreign companies and local firms that supply goods to Russia to use crypto assets for payment settlement without excessive legal restrictions. In fact, major Russian commercial banks such as Alfa-Bank have already begun testing related cryptocurrency trading services.

Strict investment tiering: Retail users’ annual limit 300,000 rubles

Although the bill significantly relaxes cross-border settlement at the corporate level, in order to manage domestic financial risks, Russian authorities have adopted strict tiered restrictions for the general retail market. The bill sets clear purchase and transfer ceilings for investors with different identities.

For “non-qualified investors (general retail users),” the bill stipulates that the annual purchase limit of cryptocurrencies through a single intermediary institution is only 300,000 rubles (about 3,800 USD), and the limit on transferring cryptocurrencies abroad is tightly capped at 100,000 rubles.

On the other hand, for “qualified investors” with professional knowledge and the ability to take on risk, the bill provides greater flexibility. Its annual purchase limit is raised to 3,000,000 rubles, and the ceiling for transfers abroad is also loosened to 1,000,000 rubles.

Set to roll out in September; Russia’s crypto legalization takes a major step

Analysts point out that this bill represents the most substantively meaningful step forward in Russia’s long-term push to legalize cryptocurrencies. The market generally expects that, guided by national policy, today’s second and third readings will likely pass smoothly. If the bill is approved as scheduled, its main provisions are expected to officially come into effect as early as September 1, 2026. At that time, Russia’s role and influence in the global cryptocurrency landscape will inevitably undergo a new shift.