Key Takeaways
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Summer 2026 Deadline: Mass blocking of unregistered foreign exchanges is expected to begin in July 2026, aligning with the introduction of new national crypto laws.
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Capture of Transaction Fees: The government aims to reclaim an estimated $15 billion in annual fees currently paid to global exchanges by forcing traders onto domestic platforms like the Moscow Exchange.
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High-Tech Censorship: Moscow is investing $29 million in AI tools to block DNS access and monitor traffic to foreign exchanges, mining pools, and "unfriendly" digital asset services.
Russia is reportedly preparing to shut the gates on foreign cryptocurrency exchanges. According to industry experts and recent legislative updates, the Russian internet censor, Roskomnadzor, is poised to begin "mass blocking" major international trading platforms as early as Summer 2026.
The $15 Billion Internalization Strategy
The move coincides with a new federal regulatory framework expected to be finalized by July 1, 2026. Moscow’s primary goal is to redirect the vast flow of capital currently leaving the country. According to Sergey Shvetsov, Chairman of the Moscow Exchange, Russian citizens currently pay approximately $15 billion annually in transaction fees to overseas platforms—revenue the Kremlin now wants to capture for domestic, state-supervised exchanges.
AI-Powered Enforcement
Unlike previous attempts to restrict internet traffic, this crackdown will likely be supported by a significant technical upgrade. Roskomnadzor is reportedly deploying $29 million worth of new AI and machine learning tools specifically designed to identify and filter "unfriendly" crypto infrastructure.
Experts suggest that platforms showing a willingness to comply with Western sanctions (such as OKX or Bybit) will be the primary targets. The "Belarusian model" is frequently cited as the blueprint, where all crypto transactions must be routed through a centralized, state-approved gateway.
FAQs
Will Russian citizens still be able to own cryptocurrency?
Yes. Current proposals do not ban ownership. Instead, they aim to mandate that all trading happens through licensed Russian intermediaries. "Unqualified" retail investors may face annual purchase limits—reportedly around 300,000 rubles ($4,000 USD)—to manage risk.
Can users bypass these blocks with a VPN?
While VPNs are a common workaround, the Russian government is simultaneously cracking down on VPN providers and using AI-based traffic analysis to identify and throttle "block-circumvention" tools. Experts warn that relying on these methods may become increasingly difficult and could lead to higher transaction costs.
What happens to "unfriendly" exchanges?
Under the new laws, any exchange that does not house its servers within Russia and comply with local data localization laws will likely be blocked. Platforms that have historically complied with international sanctions against Russia are at the highest risk of being blacklisted immediately.