5th September 2025 - (Moscow) The Russian Finance Ministry is advocating for a simplification in the income threshold for crypto traders in Moscow, aiming to facilitate broader access to the crypto market for Russian citizens.
Reports from Russian news outlets RBC and Interfax disclosed that Alexey Yakovlev, the Director of the Financial Policy Department at the Ministry of Finance, emphasised the necessity for expanding participation in the Central Bank's supervised crypto trading pilot to enhance its effectiveness.
For years, a rift has persisted between the Central Bank and the Ministry concerning crypto-related regulations. While the Ministry has advocated for increased oversight and taxation of crypto activities, the Central Bank has staunchly pushed for a complete ban on crypto trading and the closure of crypto trading platforms.
Following President Vladimir Putin's directive to find a middle ground, Moscow has embarked on a crypto-oriented trajectory, incorporating tokens like Bitcoin (BTC) in cross-border transactions and encouraging regions with excess energy resources to engage in crypto mining activities.
The Central Bank has introduced an experimental legal regime (ELR) tailored for crypto traders, providing a controlled environment for companies seeking to utilise crypto assets in lieu of the US dollar for trade agreements. This framework also permits "highly qualified" investors to engage in crypto trading under the bank's supervision.
Under the current ELR guidelines, only individuals with substantial wealth exceeding 100 million rubles ($1,231,648) or with annual income surpassing 50 million rubles ($615,753) are eligible to participate in crypto trading activities. The Ministry of Finance is advocating for a revision of these thresholds to enable wider access to the ELR.
Yakovlev highlighted that while some thresholds may be necessary, restricting ordinary citizens from participating in the ELR could hinder its intended objectives. Discussions are ongoing regarding the extent of reduction in these thresholds to ensure inclusivity.
Looking ahead, the Ministry envisions transitioning from the temporary ELR to permanent crypto regulations within a three-year timeframe. The objective is to involve a broader array of participants to comprehensively evaluate and refine the market processes.
Amidst the evolving landscape, with the Moscow Exchange offering qualified investors access to crypto-related securities and the emergence of crypto derivative offerings by Russian brokers and commercial banks, the Ministry aims to diversify asset tokenisation opportunities within the ELR. This expansion may encompass tokens linked to real-world assets, intellectual property, and corporate rights in limited liability companies, leveraging token-powered smart contract technology to enhance investor choices and market functionality.