Who Can Operate in Russia's Crypto Market from 5 October 2026

The two CBR acts enter into force on 5 October 2026. From that date, digital depositories, crypto exchangers and operators of information systems that issue digital rights are admitted to Russia’s crypto market, each into its own Bank of Russia register. The procedure, announced in the release of 24 September 2026, requires documents, confirmation that managers meet the qualification requirements, and a simplified procedure for existing market participants.

Who the new procedure covers

The Bank of Russia release “How to get into the Bank of Russia register to work in the crypto market” of 24 September 2026 names three kinds of organisations: digital depositories, crypto exchangers and operators of information systems that issue digital rights. Each of the three categories has its own register. An earlier Bank of Russia overview of 21 July 2026 describes crypto exchangers and digital depositories as new participants in the regulated infrastructure of the crypto market.

What an organisation must provide

The Bank of Russia regulation on qualification requirements, documents and the admission procedure, published with the release of 24 September 2026, sets requirements for members of governing bodies and for certain officers of all three participant categories, lists the documents an applicant files, and sets out how the Bank of Russia decides on entry into a register. For existing companies applying for digital depository or crypto exchanger status, the same regulation provides a simplified admission procedure.

A reader question: how does an organisation get into the register

The path has several steps, and each of them is described in the two acts. An applicant files the documents listed in the regulation. The Bank of Russia checks whether members of governing bodies and certain officers meet the qualification requirements, and then decides on entry into the relevant register. How the registers are kept, how their data is updated and in what form it is published is set by the Bank of Russia directive on maintaining registers and publishing information, published on 24 September 2026.

When the acts take effect

The admission regulation and the register directive were registered by the Ministry of Justice and take effect on 5 October, as stated in the Bank of Russia release of 24 September 2026. The overview of 21 July 2026 adds the general frame: the law introduces regulated infrastructure for the crypto market, and existing market participants have a transition period until 1 July 2027 to obtain licenses and align their operations with the requirements.

What it means for an ordinary user

The new procedure covers the admission of organisations, not the servicing of their clients: it sets out how a company obtains the right to operate in the Russian crypto market. The Bank of Russia release of 24 September 2026 does not describe the effect on an individual user’s account and does not yet name the organisations already entered in the registers; that information will appear in the registers the Bank of Russia maintains and publishes.

This material is informational and is not investment advice.

Published: 25 September 2026 · Published by WEEX · WEEX editorial standards