The Bank of Russia said on October 15, 2026 that individuals cannot move digital currency from regulated accounts to non-custodial wallets. On the same day, it authorized Sberbank to offer crypto exchange services.
The Bank of Russia prohibited individuals from moving digital currency out of regulated accounts and into non-custodial wallets on October 15, 2026. Bitcoin bought through a licensed platform therefore stays inside the licensed system.
Timing stood out. The central bank also authorized Sberbank, the country's largest bank, to offer crypto exchange services that day. Russians gain an official place to buy crypto while losing the ability to withdraw it to a wallet they control, and self-custody is no longer an option on regulated platforms.
The central bank calls it a clarification
The Bank of Russia framed the move as an official clarification, not a new rule. It rests on Part 9 of Article 31 of Federal Law No. 282-FZ.
That law was signed in August 2026 and took effect on September 1, 2026. It legalized crypto trading and custody, but only through regulated entities.
Direct peer-to-peer transactions remain allowed until July 1, 2027. After that date, every digital currency transaction must run through a licensed intermediary.
Caps and limits stay in place
Two other limits remain. Retail purchases through intermediaries carry a 300,000 ruble annual cap, and using digital assets to pay for goods and services stays banned.
On the licensed platforms, only assets that meet high liquidity standards, such as Bitcoin, can trade.
What changes for users
Users of regulated platforms will have limited options for controlling their own assets, because their coins depend on the licensed intermediary holding them. Decentralized finance generally requires a self-custody wallet, so blocking transfers to those wallets cuts the link between Russia's licensed market and that ecosystem.
The report also notes that trading volumes could decline once the peer-to-peer window closes in 2027.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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