Russia crypto exchanges get a regulator: Bank of Russia names NAUFOR first crypto SRO

29 Oct 2026

29 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC+01:00

Regulation TradeReviewed News Desk

Russia’s crypto exchanges now have their first self-regulatory organization. On October 29, 2026 the Bank of Russia granted the National Association of Securities Market Participants (NAUFOR) self-regulatory organization (SRO) status for digital depositories and companies that exchange digital currencies, Finmarket and Vedomosti reported, citing the association. The news was first flagged in English by Watcher.Guru.

Who has to join and by when

According to Finmarket, the central bank’s register of crypto exchangers currently lists 23 participants and the register of digital depositories lists 8, including VTB, Sberbank and entities of the T-Technologies group, the holding behind T-Bank. Under current law, depositories and exchangers included in those registers must join an SRO within 90 days.

As an SRO, NAUFOR says it will help draft industry standards, monitor compliance, give methodological support to market participants and represent the industry in talks with the Bank of Russia as rules are refined. The association, active since 1996, already acts as an SRO for brokers, dealers, asset managers, depositories and investment advisers, and has 725 members.

How Russia’s crypto rulebook is taking shape

This is the latest step in a fast build-out. The law “On Digital Currencies and Digital Rights” came into force on September 1, 2026. On October 6 the Bank of Russia admitted the first five digital depositories and four crypto exchange entities to its registers, and said these firms must fully comply with the new legislation before September 1, 2027. Under that framework, crypto exchangers may buy and sell digital currencies on their own behalf and account, outside organized trading.

On October 8 NAUFOR also became the first SRO for information system operators that issue digital financial assets. Vedomosti adds that the admission procedure for depositories, exchangers and these operators took effect on October 5, with minimum own funds of 15 million rubles for crypto exchangers and 50 million to 250 million rubles for digital depositories, depending on activity.

What it means for traders

• A walled-off domestic market. Russia is channeling crypto activity into a short list of registered, bank-linked firms supervised by the central bank and now an SRO. Expect more standards and reporting rules over the next 90 days.
• Global exchanges are a separate story. This regime covers Russian registered entities. Traders elsewhere should check how their own exchange is licensed in their country.
• Compare before you choose. See fees, licensing and payment options in our crypto exchange comparison. BingX ranks first and OKX second in our tests, and you can read how we test exchanges.

This article is for information only and is not financial advice.

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Related reviews

• Bingx review
• Okx review

Sources

• Finmarket: НАУФОР стала СРО цифровых депозитариев и криптообменников
• Vedomosti: НАУФОР получила от Банка России статус СРО цифровых депозитариев
• Bank of Russia: Bank of Russia admits first digital depositories and cryptocurrency exchanges to financial market
• Bank of Russia: Bank of Russia registers first self-regulatory organisation in digital rights market
• Watcher.Guru Telegram: Russia's central bank officially registers its first regulatory organization for crypto exchanges

News is for information only and is not financial advice. More crypto news