The Bank of Russia recently announced a new regulation allowing qualified investors to access financial derivatives and securities linked to cryptocurrency prices. This decision is part of a three-year experiment aimed at developing a legal framework for crypto investments.
In a press release, the Bank highlighted that these financial instruments must be non-deliverable, allowing qualified investors—high-income individuals with significant financial assets—to participate in the market. Meanwhile, Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, aims to become an official market maker on regulated crypto platforms.
JUST IN: Russia’s Central Bank lets financial firms offer crypto derivatives to qualified investors.
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As Alexander Zozulya, Sberbank’s director, stated: “The Bank of Russia has taken an important step by announcing the development of an experimental legal regime for cryptocurrency transactions.” He added, “We expect a legal ‘sandbox’ for operations with cryptocurrencies to emerge.”
In addition to these regulations, there is a growing discussion on the creation of a national stablecoin in response to recent international sanctions disrupting crypto exchanges linked to Russia.
The push for integration in the crypto ecosystem is driven by the rising utilization of stablecoins globally. Recent research by Artemis and Dune suggests a 50% increase in active stablecoin wallets year-over-year, with a market capitalization surpassing $200 billion in early 2025.
Key Takeaways
- The Bank of Russia is enabling crypto investments for qualified investors through derivatives and securities tied to crypto prices.
- Sberbank positions itself as a market maker in the upcoming regulated platforms.
