On October 21, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov officially announced a consensus reached with the Central Bank on the use of cryptocurrencies for foreign economic activity.
«We believe this area should be legalized and regulated by law,» he said. «Together with Rosfinmonitoring and the regulatory authorities, we can ensure order in this sector.»
Siluanov emphasized the dual purpose of cryptocurrencies: they serve not only as a payment tool but also as a channel for capital movement. Therefore, legalization will be accompanied by increased regulatory oversight to minimize potential risks.
This decision was expected. Several days before Siluanov’s October 16 announcement, Yevgeny Masharov, a member of the Public Chamber’s Commission for Public Expertise of Bills and Other Regulatory Acts of Russia, predicted that 2026 would be the starting point for balanced regulation. The figures confirm this: according to him, the volume of investment by Russians and businesses in digital assets has already exceeded 2,5 trillion rubles.
Cryptocurrencies have already become a de facto tool for foreign economic activity, helping businesses move away from currencies unfriendly jurisdictions.
At the same time, the use of cryptocurrencies by citizens within the country is increasingly worrying the authorities, and they are increasingly determined to suppress such use. Yevgeny Masharov himself proposed a few days ago imprison for illegal transfer of cryptocurrencies.