Russia Prepares Digital Asset Market for Public Blockchains

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A Tiered Market for Digital Assets

Under the new rules, access to DFAs (Digital Financial Assets) will depend heavily on an investor’s classification. Retail investors without “qualified” status will be allowed to purchase lower-risk digital assets, particularly those that offer fixed or predictable payouts and are not linked to volatile market indicators. These instruments may include certain tokenized debt products, provided they meet strict credit standards.

Beginning in 2026, the same group of investors will gain limited access to more complex DFAs whose returns fluctuate with macroeconomic variables such as inflation, benchmark interest rates, commodity prices, or equity markets. To manage risk exposure, annual purchases by non-qualified investors will be capped at 600,000 rubles, with flexibility built in to reinvest proceeds if assets are sold or redeemed within the same year.

Risk Controls Take Center Stage

A central feature of the revised framework is tighter control over risk. All DFAs available on the market must meet minimum credit-rating requirements, both at the product and issuer level. Some instruments will also be required to include capital protection features, ensuring that investors can recover their initial investment.

Higher-risk products—including tokenized securities—will remain off-limits to non-qualified investors and reserved exclusively for professionals. Legal entities, however, face no such restrictions when acquiring digital rights, reflecting a more permissive stance toward corporate participation.

The central bank will retain authority over rating thresholds, with final criteria to be set by its board.

Preparing for Public Blockchains

While DFAs are currently issued on private, permissioned blockchains, regulators have signaled a shift ahead. From next year, Russian companies may be allowed to issue these assets on public networks, a move aimed at opening access to foreign capital while keeping regulatory oversight intact.

This transition aligns with Russia’s broader recalibration of its digital asset policy.

Part of a Bigger Crypto Reset

The DFA update follows closely on the heels of the central bank’s newly outlined crypto strategy, which proposes formally recognizing cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as monetary instruments. The plan would significantly expand investor access, allowing professional investors to trade freely and permitting retail investors to buy major digital assets like Bitcoin within defined limits.

Lawmakers are expected to formalize these changes by mid-2026, a timeline that would place both tokenized assets and cryptocurrencies under a unified regulatory umbrella.

If projections hold, Russia’s market for digital investment products—spanning both DFAs and crypto—could surpass 2 trillion rubles next year. The latest rule changes suggest authorities are laying the groundwork now, prioritizing control and investor protection while gradually widening participation.