Russia picks Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT for public trading as retail faces $58,000 cap

Aug. 12, 2026 at 8:40 pm GMT • 2 min read 01 Bank of Russia proposed public organized crypto trading limited to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT. 02 Non-qualified Russian residents could spend up to ₽300,000 per broker yearly, while qualified investors face broader access. 03 The draft is open until Aug. 24, and the central bank can still change the asset list, cap, or final timing.The Bank of Russia has proposed opening public organized crypto trading with only Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether’s USDT eligible for admission.Under the draft directive, a Russian resident who is not a qualified investor could spend up to ₽300,000, nearly $58,000, on cryptocurrency through a single broker in a calendar year. The cap measures cumulative purchase costs through that broker.That structure makes the broker the unit of the proposed ceiling. It also limits acquisitions: the directive’s formula totals the ruble cost of cryptocurrency purchases made for the client through the broker during the year.The draft remains open for comments through Aug. 24, according to its explanatory note. The central bank can amend the three-asset appendix, cap, or other provisions before issuing a final directive.Russia’s...