Russia is advancing the implementation of regulations for its digital assets. Parliament has approved the Digital Currency and Digital Rights Act, preparing to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensed crypto businesses. According to the information provided, the bill still awaits the president’s signature and is expected to take effect on September 1, 2026.
The bill covers five categories of licensed institutions.
The new law authorizes the Central Bank of Russia to issue licenses to five categories of crypto service providers, including exchanges, brokers, asset managers, custodians, and crypto dealers. This means Russia is bringing its previously fragmented crypto activities under a unified regulatory framework.
Existing institutions may continue operating during the transition period, which will last until July 1, 2027. During this time, exchanges must also meet capital requirements and join an approved self-regulatory organization.
- The exchange's minimum capital requirement is 15 million rubles.
- The transition period ends on July 1, 2027.
- The law is expected to take effect on September 1, 2026.
Domestic payments remain prohibited; cross-border trade is permitted.
The law does not permit the use of crypto assets for domestic payments in Russia. This means that cryptocurrencies cannot yet be used as a means of everyday payment within the country.
However, the bill explicitly permits cryptocurrency assets to be used for cross-border trade. This arrangement aligns with Russia’s recent efforts to promote alternative settlement channels, particularly as the importance of cross-border payments and on-chain settlement tools continues to rise amid ongoing sanctions pressure.
XRP has entered the MEXC-related channels.
Before this law officially took effect, XRP was already present in Russia’s regulated financial infrastructure. The article notes that MOEX’s Digital Financial Assets system has provided compliant investment exposure related to XRP.
These products do not equate to investors directly holding XRP, but rather provide exposure to the asset through regulated financial instruments. For institutional capital, this approach more closely aligns with traditional market practices and is easier to integrate into existing compliance processes.
With the launch of Russia’s licensed crypto market, institutions already operating within MOEX’s Digital Financial Assets framework could theoretically more easily increase their allocation to XRP through existing channels. The article also notes that this does not imply XRP has gained special legal status or guarantee its broader adoption.
From a timeline perspective, Russia is advancing its digital asset infrastructure while creating legal space for cryptocurrency use in cross-border trade. For assets already within regulated channels, this regulatory shift could enable earlier institutional access—and XRP is positioned exactly there.