As of 2025, Russia has a range of laws and regulations in place governing the circulation of cryptocurrencies.
- Federal Law No. 259-FZ (July 31, 2020)
- Federal Law No. 115-FZ (August 7, 2001)
- Federal Law No. 221-FZ (August 8, 2024)
- Federal Law No. 169-FZ (July 8, 2024)
- Tax Code of the Russian Federation
- Code of Administrative Offenses
- Civil Code of the Russian Federation
- Experimental Legal Regime (ELR)
- Key Restrictions on Cryptocurrencies in Russia
Federal Law No. 259-FZ (July 31, 2020) “On Digital Financial Assets, Digital Currency, and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”
This law defines cryptocurrency as property, permits transactions involving it, but prohibits its use as a means of payment within the country.
Federal Law No. 115-FZ (August 7, 2001) “On Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Criminally Obtained Incomes and the Financing of Terrorism”
It includes provisions for monitoring cryptocurrency operations to prevent illicit financial activities.
Federal Law No. 221-FZ (August 8, 2024)
This law introduces amendments to various regulations related to cryptocurrency circulation, legalizing mining and allowing cross-border settlements within a special experimental legal framework (ELF).
Federal Law No. 169-FZ (July 8, 2024)
It updates the law “On Experimental Legal Regimes (ELRs) in the Field of Digital Innovation in the Russian Federation”, enabling the creation of special regulatory sandboxes for working with cryptocurrency.
Tax Code of the Russian Federation
Starting January 1, 2025, digital currency is officially recognized as property for tax purposes. Personal income tax (13–15%) applies to individuals, while corporate profits tax is set at 25% for businesses.
Code of Administrative Offenses
It establishes penalties for violating cryptocurrency regulations, including fines of up to 500,000 rubles.
Civil Code of the Russian Federation
Additionally, government regulations, such as Decree No. 1869 (dated December 23, 2024), impose restrictions on crypto mining in certain regions during specific periods. For example, from January 1, 2025, to March 15, 2031, mining is fully prohibited in Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, as well as in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. In parts of the Irkutsk region, Buryatia, and Zabaykalsky Krai, mining is banned seasonally — from January 1 to March 15, 2025, and then annually from November 15 to March 15 until 2031
Experimental Legal Regime (ELR)
Since 2024, cross-border cryptocurrency transactions and deals have been allowed for qualified investors under a controlled Experimental Legal Regime (ELR) overseen by the Central Bank of Russia.
The ELR is designed to test and develop legal crypto operations in the country. The ELR will run for three years and is limited to a select group of participants
Who Can Participate:
– Highly qualified individual investors — citizens with securities and deposit investments over 100 million rubles, or with an annual income exceeding 50 million rubles.
– Qualified legal entities — banks, brokers, asset management firms, insurance companies, and non-state pension funds.
How It Works:
– The ELR includes three types of participants: authorized banks, trading platforms (crypto exchanges), and liquidity providers.
– Cryptocurrency transactions are only allowed within the ELR and solely between its participants.
– Financial institutions must meet special regulatory requirements tailored to crypto market risks.
Goals and Features:
– Increase transparency in the crypto market and establish service standards.
– Expand investment opportunities for experienced investors.
– Prohibit crypto payments between Russian residents outside the ELR, with penalties for violations – Regular investors still cannot legally transact with cryptocurrencies directly — only trade derivatives tied to crypto prices, without actual asset delivery.
Key Cryptocurrency Restrictions in Russia
1. Cryptocurrency is not recognized as legal tender within the country.
2. Using crypto to pay for goods and services is prohibited.
3. Mining is allowed with registration and limits, but banned outright in certain regions.
4. Crypto advertising and promotions have been banned since 2024.
These laws and rules shape the current legal landscape for cryptocurrency in Russia as of 2025.
