Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina said the limits are designed to protect non-qualified investors from crypto risks while preserving access to cross-border transfers under the new regime.
Russia plans to limit cryptocurrency purchases by non-qualified investors to 300,000 rubles, or about $3,800, starting Sept. 1 under bill No. 1194918-8, while qualified investors will be allowed to buy up to 10 times that amount. Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina has framed the differentiated regime as an investor-protection measure rather than a blanket ban, saying the split between qualified and non-qualified investors reflects standard regulatory practice and is intended to shield less sophisticated buyers from the volatility and complexity of digital assets. She also said Russia will not restrict the transfer or repatriation of digital assets abroad under the new rules, but warned that once assets are held in foreign jurisdictions, investors may lose the protections of Russian law and could face blocking, foreclosure or seizure.