Russian Crypto Compliance

When dealing with Russian crypto compliance, the set of laws, licensing rules, and enforcement actions that govern cryptocurrency activities in the Russian Federation. Also known as crypto regulation in Russia, it shapes how exchanges, token issuers, and users operate under local authority. FATF greylist a group of jurisdictions flagged for higher money‑laundering risk directly influences Russian policy because the government must align its anti‑terrorist financing standards with international expectations. At the same time, sanctions compliance the process of obeying foreign‑imposed trade and financial restrictions adds another layer, forcing Russian platforms to block assets tied to sanctioned parties. Together these forces create a regulatory web that demands constant monitoring, especially for projects that cross borders or deal with tokenized securities.

Key Requirements and How They Touch Everyday Projects

The backbone of Russian crypto compliance is a strict KYC/AML know‑your‑customer and anti‑money‑laundering framework. Every exchange must verify user identities, retain transaction logs for at least five years, and report suspicious activity to Rosfinmonitoring. Failure to meet these standards can trigger fines or revocation of a license. Licensing itself is a two‑step process: first, register as a financial institution with the Central Bank, then obtain a special crypto‑operation permit that outlines permissible services—trading, custodial, or token issuance. For token issuers, especially those launching Security Token Offerings (STOs) public sales of blockchain‑based securities subject to Russian securities law, the compliance checklist expands to include prospectus approval, investor accreditation checks, and ongoing disclosure obligations. Companies that ignore these steps often face enforcement actions similar to the Tornado Cash sanctions the U.S. Treasury's move to block a privacy‑mixing service, which set a precedent for how Russian regulators may treat privacy‑focused protocols. In practice, firms build internal compliance programs that map each regulatory demand to a concrete control—automated KYC screening, AML transaction monitoring, and regular audit trails.

What this means for you is a clear roadmap: understand the local legal base, align your product design with KYC/AML workflows, and keep an eye on international lists like the FATF greylist that can trigger sudden policy shifts. The posts below walk you through real‑world examples—from a step‑by‑step guide on building a 2025 crypto compliance program to a deep dive on how sanctions reshape token offerings. You’ll also find reviews of exchanges that either comply fully or try to sidestep the rules, helping you spot safe partners. Armed with these insights, you can navigate Russian crypto compliance without getting caught in a regulatory blind spot.