Russia Sets 2027 Deadline to End Direct Peer-to-Peer Crypto Trading

The Bank of Russia’s updated guidance clarifies that Federal Law No. 282-FZ permits private, decentralized trades only until the mid-2027 cutoff. After this date, market participants will be required to utilize licensed brokers or registered cryptocurrency exchange operators. This transition is part of a broader regulatory framework that began on September 1, placing custody and trading activities under direct state supervision.

Existing firms, including VTB, Zefir, and Sistema Crypto, have already begun entering the supervised register, with transitional provisions allowing them until September 2027 to finalize operational compliance. For non-qualified retail investors, the new rules cap annual purchases at 300,000 rubles per intermediary. Furthermore, the central bank has explicitly barred the transfer of assets from regulated digital depositories to personal wallets where the user retains private key control. While domestic crypto payments for goods and services remain illegal, the state is preparing for institutional integration; Sberbank and the Moscow Exchange are both slated to launch cryptocurrency services for professional and retail clients starting December 1.