The Russian Finance Ministry is looking to make cryptocurrency trading more accessible for average citizens by reducing the strict income and wealth requirements that currently limit who can participate.
The proposal, announced by Financial Policy Director Alexey Yakovlev, seeks to lower the high financial bar for being an “especially qualified” investor. Currently, individuals need to have 100 million rubles ($1.23 million) in assets or an annual income of 50 million rubles ($615,753) to qualify. Yakovlev stated that these criteria can and should be adjusted downwards, arguing that the pilot program cannot function effectively if it’s only open to a very small, wealthy segment of society.
This move follows a directive from President Vladimir Putin to find a compromise on crypto regulation, as the country increasingly uses digital assets like Bitcoin for cross-border trade. While the Bank of Russia has previously expressed caution and even recommended criminal liability for unapproved transactions, the government appears to be moving toward a more expansive and inclusive approach. The current pilot program, a temporary three-year framework, is a testing ground for permanent rules that will be established after the trial period. This ongoing debate highlights the government’s push for crypto expansion versus the central bank’s concerns about risk.
September 2025, Cryptoniteuae
