Russia Sets 2026 Rules to Cap Banks’ Crypto Exposure

* Russia to tighten rules for crypto-banking operations by 2026. * The central bank plans stricter capital caps and investment standards. On August 26, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that the Bank of Russia plans to enforce tighter crypto rules for banks starting in 2026, aiming to reduce industry risks with these new regulations. These comprehensive rules will impose new restrictions on banks’ cryptocurrency-related activities, including investment caps, stricter lending policies, and capital requirements to safeguard financial stability. The forthcoming regulations will require banks that engage in digital asset operations to meet specific capital thresholds, capping cryptocurrency-based investments at no more than 1% of a bank's capital. Furthermore, the rules will govern both direct and indirect investments in cryptocurrencies, as well as financial instruments that banks issue or hold. The central bank will also more tightly scrutinize lending to businesses in the crypto sector. The Bank of Russia has already informed 97 banks about these upcoming changes and urged them to be cautious when assessing risks associated with cryptocurrency operations. The central bank maintains its overall skeptical stance on decentralized cryptocurrencies; however, it allows the limited use of digital assets for foreign trade to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions. Additionally, qualified investors can still invest through derivatives within prescribed boundaries. This regulatory shift reflects a broader push by lawmakers for clearer legal frameworks to support cryptocurrency-related activities in Russia. Concurrently, lawmakers are deliberating the establishment of regulated crypto exchanges, a move that will ensure alignment with the country’s phased rollout of its digital ruble, slated for September 1, 2026.