The Bank of Russia will not expand the list of cryptocurrencies available to retail investors, nor will it increase investment limits in these assets following the implementation of new regulations. This was stated by Vladimir Chistyukhin, the first deputy chairman of the Central Bank, in an interview with RBC.
According to him, initially, only three of the most liquid assets will be available to retail investors: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT.
Chistyukhin reminded that a provision was added to the bill before its second reading, granting the Bank of Russia the right to expand the list. However, the regulator does not intend to utilize this option at the outset.
The Central Bank continues to view cryptocurrencies as high-risk instruments—characterized by high volatility and the risk of being blocked. In this context, Chistyukhin emphasized that investments by retail investors in crypto assets "should not be a priority."
He specifically pointed out the vulnerabilities of stablecoins, including USDT: such tokens can be blocked or burned, putting owners at risk of losing access to their funds. Therefore, the Central Bank does not support either the expansion of the list of cryptocurrencies available to retail investors or an increase in the purchase limit for stablecoins.
Chistyukhin noted that the request to expand the list is linked to the potential issuance of local stablecoins in Russia, to ensure they are "not discriminated against compared to foreign ones." He added that one company has already issued a token for international settlements and is using it, but the Central Bank is open to discussing the expansion of the list later.
The investment limit for retail investors will also remain unchanged—300,000 rubles through a single professional participant. Chistyukhin stated that this amount exceeds the average balances in brokerage accounts and trust management accounts, and the restrictions, according to the Central Bank, help mitigate potential losses.
The criteria for allowing cryptocurrencies on Russian exchanges and the investment rules for qualified and retail investors are outlined in the bill "On Digital Currency and Digital Rights." This document establishes the basic framework for regulating cryptocurrency circulation in Russia and defines the market participants—exchanges, exchangers, depositories, brokers, and management companies.
According to the document, before purchasing digital assets, both categories of investors must pass a knowledge test on the instrument. At the end of April, the bill passed its first reading in the State Duma. It is expected to be adopted in the summer, with regulations set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
It is worth noting that the Bank of Russia plans to introduce criminal liability for operating in the cryptocurrency market without a license.