Buy crypto in Russia

Crypto sits in a restricted grey zone in Russia. Owning and trading it is not illegal, and mining was formally legalised in late 2024, but using crypto to pay for goods and services inside the country is banned. The Bank of Russia remains hostile to retail crypto, while a separate experimental regime lets crypto be used for cross-border trade settlement under state supervision.

International sanctions and exchange exits reshaped the market. Binance sold its Russian business in 2023, and most global platforms now restrict or block Russian users, so P2P trading dominates: buyers send rubles directly to sellers via bank transfer while the platform holds crypto in escrow. Stablecoins such as USDT are the most traded asset. Gains are taxable as personal income at 13% to 15%, though reporting is inconsistent.