Russia has approved its first self-regulatory organization for crypto exchanges and digital depositories, giving the country’s new digital-asset framework an operating structure. The Bank of Russia granted that status to the National Association of Securities Market Participants, known as NAUFOR, on October 29, according to reporting cited by Bitcoin Magazine.
NAUFOR takes responsibility for digital-asset rules
NAUFOR will set industry standards, monitor member firms and represent the sector in discussions with regulators. The association said it intends to help develop rules for digital-asset markets and propose changes to the central bank’s regulatory approach.
The organization is an established participant in Russia’s traditional financial system. It has operated since 1996 and has 725 members, including brokers, dealers and fund managers. Earlier in October, it also received self-regulatory status for operators of information systems.
The approval follows legislation passed by Russia’s State Duma in July. The law, called “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights,” requires crypto exchanges and digital depositories to be included in central bank registries and to belong to a self-regulatory organization.
What the framework means for crypto users
Interfax reported that the relevant registries contain 23 crypto exchanges and eight digital depositories. The listed entities include VTB, Sberbank and companies associated with T-Technologies, the holding group behind T-Bank. Those firms have 90 days to join an SRO.
A digital depository would record ownership of digital assets. Under one interpretation of the framework described in the reporting, it could also limit transfers to users’ personal wallets. The rules distinguish between qualified and non-qualified investors: non-qualified retail buyers may purchase up to 300,000 rubles of cryptocurrency per year through one intermediary, while qualified investors receive higher limits.
The framework does not make bitcoin legal money for ordinary domestic payments. Domestic crypto payments remain prohibited, while the legislation licenses exchanges and depositories and creates a state-supervised route for cross-border transactions. The reporting described that route as relevant to Russia’s efforts to navigate Western sanctions.
Russia is also moving toward exchange-based trading. The Moscow Exchange reportedly began testing cryptocurrency trading with professional investors earlier in the autumn and planned to launch trading in December, using existing infrastructure and a partner digital depository. Sberbank has separately received approval to provide custody for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Market picture
Moneyiar market data at 25 October 2026 showed Bitcoin at $80,430.506808014, down 0.08% over 24 hours and 1.32% over seven days. Comedian (BAN) was $0.0575169485, down 4.44% in 24 hours but up 7.23% over seven days. aelf (ELF) stood at $0.0669372345, rising 1.82% over 24 hours and 8.51% over seven days. RedStone (RED) was $0.1452603192, down 2.72% over 24 hours and up 6.36% over seven days.
