On Thursday, the Russian Finance Ministry has published on its official website a new draft law “On Digital Financial Assets.” It is a legislative proposal to strictly regulate cryptocurrencies and ICOs. The main points are:
– all trading to be done only via cryptocurrency exchanges that are registered in Russia.
– cryptocurrencies cannot be used as means of payment for goods or services.They can only be converted into money or other digital assets.
– no anonymity.
– smart contracts will be recognized as being legally binding and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) will be strictly controlled with only businesses registered in Russia allowed to issue them.
– individual unaccredited investors cannot purchase more than 50,000 rubles ($898) worth of ICO tokens per each issue.
– digital wallets are subject to registration in the real name of their respective owners in accordance with the federal law against money laundering.
