Ordinary Russians will be able to buy select tokens through regulated intermediaries, while the longstanding ban on using crypto for payments remains in place.
Russia is moving to broaden access to crypto investing for everyday investors without lifting its restrictions on real-world spending. Ordinary Russians will be allowed to buy selected tokens through regulated intermediaries, a structure that suggests tighter oversight of retail access while keeping crypto payments banned. The approach points to a split policy: permitting limited investment exposure to digital assets while continuing to block their use as a means of payment.