Russia has approved its first cryptocurrency exchange operators and digital-asset custodians, opening a regulated channel for selected crypto services while keeping the use of crypto for payments prohibited.
Bank of Russia publishes initial registers
The Bank of Russia published its first registers of authorized crypto operators on Tuesday. The lists contain four exchange operators and five custodians, following the introduction of new regulations on Sept. 1.
Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is among the registered custodians. Atomyze, Voltari and Cloud Infrastructure also appear on the custodian register. VTB Bank is listed in both categories.
The exchange-operator register includes T-Invest Lab, Zefir and Sistema-Crypto. The source material identifies four exchange operators overall, although it names three of them.
A custodian generally provides the infrastructure used to hold or administer digital assets for clients, while an exchange operator facilitates crypto trading or related transactions. Their inclusion on official registers means these firms have been recognized within the framework overseen by Russia’s central bank.
Sberbank prepares Bitcoin, Ether and USDt products
Sberbank said it had applied for digital custodian status and plans to introduce its first crypto products on Dec. 1. The bank initially expects to support Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and USDt (USDT).
The planned services are expected to be available through SberBank Online, SberInvestments and SberBusiness, the bank’s existing platforms. Sberbank’s participation gives the new framework a major domestic financial institution at its launch, although the source material does not specify the fees, product structures or trading conditions for the planned offerings.
The registrations follow a law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in August. That legislation established a regulated framework covering crypto exchanges, custodians, brokers and investors, placing the market under Bank of Russia supervision.
Regulation expands, payment ban remains
The new system creates formal categories for businesses providing crypto-related services in Russia. At the same time, it does not legalize cryptocurrency as a means of paying for goods and services: the country’s ban on using crypto for payments remains in force.
This distinction is central to the policy. Authorized operators can provide specified market infrastructure under regulatory oversight, while cryptocurrencies remain restricted as a general payment method. The source material does not state whether the registered firms may offer services to all investors or identify the detailed operating requirements attached to each registration.
According to Cointelegraph, the Bank of Russia’s registers mark the first official group of exchange operators and custodians under the new rules.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at the given times showed mixed moves among the listed assets:
- Comedian (BAN) was priced at $0.0639012338, down 5.67% over 24 hours and 0.26% over seven days at 10:14 on Oct. 7, 2026.
- RedStone (RED) stood at $0.1502328465, down 9.23% in 24 hours and 10.58% in seven days at 10:13.
- Propy (PRO) was $0.3566737518, down 4.23% over 24 hours but up 0.41% over seven days at 10:14.
- Lorenzo Protocol (BANK) was $0.0369242006, up 5.05% over 24 hours and 4.28% over seven days at 02:59 on Aug. 19, 2026.
