Russian Central Bank Greenlights Crypto-Linked Products for Qualified Investors

Financial institutions can now offer non-deliverable derivatives, securities, and digital financial assets whose returns are tied to crypto prices, meaning clients won’t directly hold cryptocurrencies. The central bank mandates a conservative risk assessment approach, requiring full capital coverage and individual limits for these instruments, with formal regulations expected within the year. Crucially, the Bank of Russia continues to warn against direct cryptocurrency investments for financial institutions and their clients. The Russian Government is also considering a test regime to allow specific categories of investors to conduct direct crypto transactions.