The Bank of Russia has proposed allowing qualified individuals to trade cryptocurrencies under a three-year experimental legal framework (EPR).

The proposal has been submitted to the government for further discussion.

For individuals, the requirements are high: a minimum annual income of 50 million rubles or investments in securities and deposits exceeding 100 million rubles.

The experiment will also include companies with qualified investor status under existing laws and financial institutions that meet additional regulatory requirements.

According to the Bank of Russia, the initiative aims to increase market transparency, establish service standards, and expand investment opportunities for those willing to work with high-risk assets.

However, the regulator continues to emphasize that cryptocurrencies remain highly volatile, unregulated, and lack intrinsic value.

Outside the experimental framework, the ban on using cryptocurrencies as a means of payment between Russian residents will remain in place, with violations subject to administrative penalties.

Qualified investors will be allowed to invest in financial instruments linked to cryptocurrencies, but not in products that involve direct ownership or delivery of digital assets.

Earlier, on March 11, the Bank of Russia revoked the issuance of structured bonds tied to Bitcoin ETFs from Finam and Rumberg Capital.