Russia names Bitcoin, Ether and USDT for ordinary investors

The Bank of Russia says exchanges may offer Bitcoin, Ether and USDT to non-qualified investors from 17 November. Buyers must pass a test and face a ₽300,000 annual limit with each intermediary.

The Bank of Russia announced the three-asset list on 6 November. Its instruction takes effect on 17 November, when exchanges may admit Bitcoin, Ether and USD Tether to public circulation. That date matters: the announcement is not a claim that every Russian retail account can buy all three immediately.

Non-qualified investors may buy through a broker, asset manager or crypto exchanger, on an exchange or over the counter. Purchases through any one intermediary are capped at ₽300,000 a year. Qualified investors may access other cryptoassets without that limit.

Every investor, regardless of status, must complete testing and acknowledge the risks before a transaction. The central bank says the list was selected under statutory criteria including market capitalisation, average daily trading volume and at least five years of overseas price history.

The change widens regulated investment access while retaining a deliberately narrow gate. It is not an endorsement of the assets, a forecast of returns or permission to ignore an intermediary’s checks.