Russia Opens Market to Major Cryptos, But Criteria Favor BTC and ETH

Published at 2026-03-23 22:45:20

Moscow’s executive authorities have approved new rules that allow Russian crypto exchanges to list only the largest digital assets, subject to stringent thresholds for market capitalization, trading volume and an asset’s operational track record. Regulators say the standards aim to limit exposure to risky or illiquid tokens and to provide clearer market access for retail and institutional investors.

Analysts note the thresholds are likely to be met mainly by Bitcoin and Ethereum, while Solana was named but could face closer scrutiny in practice. The change may concentrate liquidity in top tokens and make listings more conservative, potentially squeezing smaller altcoins and local projects. Markets will be watching how exchanges apply the rules and whether the policy steers more trading volume toward major cryptocurrencies or prompts secondary venues to adapt.

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