Russia’s central bank bans Bitcoin transfers to self-custody wallets

Russia has opened the front door to crypto and locked the back one. On October 15, 2026, the Bank of Russia said individuals are prohibited from moving digital currency out of regulated accounts and into non-custodial wallets. Buy Bitcoin through a licensed platform, and that Bitcoin stays inside the licensed system. Withdrawing it to a wallet only you control is off the table. The timing was hard to miss. On the same day, the central bank authorized Sberbank, the country’s largest bank, to offer crypto exchange services. Russians gain an official place to buy crypto just as they lose the right to take it home. What the Bank of Russia actually said The central bank framed the move as an official clarification, not a new rule. It rests on Part 9 of Article 31 of Federal Law No. 282-FZ, the statute behind Russia’s new crypto regime. That law was signed in August 2026 and took effect on September 1, 2026. It legalized crypto trading and custody, but only through regulated entities. President Vladimir Putin signed the framework, and the October guidance spells out what it means for wallet withdrawals. The clarification also restated the broader timeline. Direct peer-to-peer transaction...