Starting from the new year of 2026, the classification of digital financial assets (DFAs) available to qualified and non-qualified investors will change, the Bank of Russia announced.
Non-qualified investors will be able to freely purchase the most popular DFAs, the payments for which do not depend on any variable indicators, including debt assets.
They will also have access, within the limit of 600 thousand rubles, to DFAs whose income depends on changes in indicators such as the inflation rate, key interest rate, prices of precious metals, or stocks.
Both categories of DFAs must have a high credit rating, and some of them must have capital protection, meaning they assume the return of the initial investment amount. The permissible rating levels of DFAs or their issuers will be established by a decision of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia.
DFAs with increased risks are permitted for purchase by retail investors only with 'qualified' status.
Legal entities will be able to acquire digital rights almost without restrictions. The exception will be DFAs linked to securities that are intended only for 'qualified' investors.
On December 23, the Bank of Russia announced the development of a concept for regulating the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, which is planned to be finalized by mid-2026. Regarding DFAs, the concept implies that their circulation, like that of other Russian digital rights (utility, hybrid), will be permitted in open blockchain networks. According to the regulator's plan, this will allow issuers to freely attract investments from abroad, and clients to purchase DFAs 'on terms no worse than purchasing cryptocurrency'.
As for cryptocurrencies themselves, according to the Central Bank's plan, with the introduction of regulation, both qualified and non-qualified investors will be able to purchase them, but each category will have its own rules and limitations.
