Russian Lawmakers Reaffirm Hardline Stance: “Crypto Will Never Become Money”
The Russian State Duma’s Committee on Financial Markets has delivered a definitive blow to the prospect of digital assets entering the domestic payment ecosystem. Anatoly Aksakov, the committee’s chair and a central figure in the nation’s financial legislation, stated during a session on December 16, 2025, that cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH will “never” be recognized as legal tender within the Russian Federation. This stance reinforces the government’s long-held “ruble-only” mandate for internal commerce, despite surging adoption rates among the populace and the growing role of crypto in international trade workarounds.
The Legislative Firewall Against Crypto Payments
The committee’s rejection is rooted in a fundamental refusal to grant private digital currencies the status of “money,” which lawmakers argue must be backed by the state and remain under the exclusive control of the Central Bank. Aksakov emphasized that while the government acknowledges the utility of digital assets as investment vehicles or for settling cross-border transactions to bypass sanctions, they pose a significant threat to financial stability if used for daily purchases. The Committee’s stance aligns with the Russian Central Bank’s persistent warnings that decentralized currencies lack the stability required to function as a medium of platform and could facilitate money laundering or tax evasion if allowed to circulate freely.
This policy creates a distinct legal bifurcation in Russia. On one hand, the state is actively developing an “experimental legal framework” that allows Russian companies to use crypto for international settlements—a pragmatic pivot necessitated by Western economic pressure. On the other hand, domestic use remains strictly prohibited. Lawmakers have even proposed that only “highly qualified investors” with significant wealth (exceeding 100 million rubles) should be allowed to trade crypto as an investment, effectively barring the average citizen from the market to “protect” them from volatility.
Adapting Civil Law to a Crypto Reality
Despite the payment ban, the Russian government is forced to address the reality of crypto ownership. New legislative proposals are currently being quick-tracked to classify cryptocurrency as “marital property.” This move aims to ensure that digital assets are treated like real estate or bank accounts during divorce proceedings, protecting the rights of spouses to a fair share of jointly acquired digital wealth. This shows a growing recognition that even if crypto isn’t “money” for the state, it is a significant financial asset for the people.
Furthermore, the government is moving to tighten the screws on the infrastructure supporting crypto. begining in 2026, a permanent ban on cryptocurrency mining will be enforced in specific regions like Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai to protect the national power grid from “uncontrolled” energy consumption. These combined measures paint a picture of a regime that is willing to leverage crypto for its own geopolitical survival while simultaneously suppressing its growth as a liberating financial tool for its citizens.
