Russia Delays Bill on Criminal Liability for Illegal Crypto Trading Until New Duma Election

What happened

The Russian State Duma postponed further review of a bill that would make illegal cryptocurrency trading a criminal offense until after the new Duma is elected, with the bill expected to move forward in the autumn session.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Delaying the bill gives the crypto market more time to operate under current rules, but the eventual fines and up‑to‑seven‑year prison terms could sharply increase compliance costs for traders and deter peer‑to‑peer activity.

Analyst inference

Russia already restricts crypto to institutions on the central bank’s register; the pending legislation would tighten those limits, potentially pushing users toward offshore platforms or informal channels.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. Whether the autumn session actually advances the bill, which would signal the timeline for new legal risks to crypto participants. Proposed
2. Any statements from the central bank or regulators clarifying enforcement of the criminal liability provisions, affecting how firms manage compliance. Proposed
3. Reactions from Russian crypto exchanges and institutional investors, as they may adjust services or pricing in anticipation of stricter rules. Proposed

Evidence

• binance.com