Russia to Treat Crypto as Property, Seize Assets via Foreign Platforms
A draft law advancing through the Russian parliament would explicitly classify cryptocurrencies as property and authorize law enforcement to cooperate with foreign trading platforms to seize crypto assets during criminal investigations. The bill cleared another legislative stage Friday, signaling momentum toward tighter state control over digital assets. Details on procedures, thresholds and which platforms would be compelled to assist remain under discussion.
If enacted, the change could increase legal exposure for crypto holders and place new compliance burdens on exchanges operating across jurisdictions. Cross-border cooperation to freeze or confiscate tokens could accelerate asset recovery in criminal cases but also heighten privacy and custody risks for ordinary users. Market observers say the move may push more peer-to-peer or offshore activity out of official channels, complicating enforcement while drawing clearer lines around how Russia treats digital property.