Russia delays crypto trading criminalization bill review until after Sept. 20 vote

Lawmakers pushed the bill to the fall session after elections, while Anatoly Aksakov said the proposed rules would target direct peer-to-peer crypto transactions and not ordinary exchangers or P2P users.

Summary

Russia will postpone further review of a bill that would introduce criminal liability for illegal cryptocurrency transactions until the State Duma’s fall session after elections conclude on September 20, State Duma Financial Market Committee Chairman Anatoly Aksakov said. The measure passed its first reading in early July and would impose fines and prison terms of up to seven years, with penalties set to take effect on July 1, 2027. Aksakov said the proposal is aimed at direct peer-to-peer transactions and would not affect ordinary exchangers and P2P users. Separately, the government’s "Digital Currency and Digital Rights Bill," originally due to take effect on July 1, has been postponed to September 1.

Terms & Concepts
  • peer-to-peer transactions: direct transfers or trades between users without a central intermediary
  • criminal liability: legal responsibility that can result in prosecution, fines, or imprisonment
  • first reading: the initial stage of parliamentary consideration of a bill