🇷🇺 Russia Opens Crypto Trading to Everyday Investors

Historic move from the State Duma, a new bill will allow regular Russians to legally trade crypto for the first time.

Key Details:

→ Retail investors can buy up to 300,000 rubles (~$3,800) annually after passing a risk test

→ Professional investors face no limits

→ Moscow & St. Petersburg Exchanges ready to launch trading

→ Law expected to go live by July 1, 2026

The Catch:

Crypto remains BANNED for domestic payments. You can invest, but you can't buy coffee with Bitcoin, the ruble stays as the only legal tender. Cross-border settlements will be allowed.

Why It Matters:

Russia processed $376.3 billion in crypto transactions last year, Europe's largest market by volume. This brings millions of users from gray markets into regulated channels.

Western sanctions pushed Russia toward crypto adoption. What started as hostility has become strategic integration.

One of the biggest regulatory pivots from a major economy this year.

Bullish for global adoption?