Overview
- The State Duma is scheduled to hold second and third readings on bill No. 1194918‑8 on Tuesday, July 21, moving the draft closer to final approval but the measure still needs the Federation Council and the president’s signature.
- The draft would recognize digital assets as property and place exchanges, brokers and custody providers under a Bank of Russia licensing and supervision regime.
- Retail investors would be split into tiers with strict limits reported for non‑qualified buyers of about 300,000 rubles per year and higher thresholds discussed for qualified investors, while licensed platforms could act as tax agents.
- Lawmakers removed a wallet‑address disclosure rule and instead added reporting on balances and volumes plus a power to hold certain large foreign or third‑party transfers for up to 48 hours.
- Key provisions are expected to take effect around September 1, 2026 with possible bans on unlicensed platforms by July 2027, a timeline that has prompted major banks to plan products timed to the new rules and leaves open questions about exact asset lists and how limits will be applied across intermediaries.