Regulators have aligned on most crypto policy issues.
Russia’s Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank are reconsidering their earlier plan to introduce “superquals,” a special top-tier investor category for crypto investments, TASS reported Tuesday.
“Superquals” are Russia’s top-tier, ultra-wealthy investors with over 100 million rubles in assets or high annual income. These investors were originally the only group permitted to legally trade crypto under the country’s regulated pilot system.
Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov said the idea was only an initial concept and is now likely to be abandoned, though some form of investor differentiation may stay. The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Russia have agreed on most points and are working to accelerate the rollout of updated crypto rules.
Russia has legalized Bitcoin for international trade payments to diversify settlement options amid ongoing economic pressures.
The ministry is also reducing restrictions on banks handling Bitcoin to support crypto investments and promote wider investor access to cryptocurrency markets. This marks a departure from Russia’s previously cautious approach to digital asset regulation.
