Russian Crypto Tax Law: What You Need to Know About Crypto Reporting and Penalties

When you trade or hold cryptocurrency in Russia, you’re not just dealing with market swings—you’re also navigating the Russian crypto tax law, a set of rules requiring individuals to declare crypto income and pay taxes on gains. Also known as crypto reporting requirements in Russia, this law turned crypto from a gray-area activity into a taxable event starting in 2021. The government doesn’t ban crypto like China does—it just wants a cut. If you made money from trading, staking, or mining, you owe taxes. If you didn’t report it, you could face fines, asset freezes, or even criminal charges.

The crypto reporting Russia, the process of filing crypto income with the Federal Tax Service (FTS). Also known as crypto income declaration, it requires you to track every transaction—buying Bitcoin, swapping tokens, earning staking rewards—and convert everything to rubles using official exchange rates. The FTS doesn’t care if you used Binance, Bybit, or a P2P platform. What matters is profit. Even if you didn’t cash out, holding crypto for more than a year and selling at a gain still counts as taxable income. And unlike the U.S., Russia doesn’t offer tax-free allowances. Every ruble of profit is subject to 13% income tax for residents. This is where things get messy. Many Russians avoid reporting by using offshore exchanges, cash P2P trades, or holding crypto in non-Russian wallets. But the government is catching up. In 2023, Russia started sharing data with major exchanges operating in the country, and banks are required to flag crypto-related transfers. The crypto compliance Russia, the set of legal and operational steps users and businesses must follow to stay within tax and anti-money laundering rules. Also known as crypto regulatory adherence, it’s no longer optional. Failing to comply isn’t just a paperwork issue—it’s a legal risk.

People are finding ways around it. Some use decentralized exchanges with no KYC, others trade crypto for goods or services to avoid cash trails, and a growing number are moving assets offshore before declaring anything. But the crypto penalties Russia, fines, asset seizures, or criminal prosecution for failing to report crypto income or using unregistered exchanges. Also known as crypto tax enforcement, it’s becoming more aggressive. In 2024, over 1,200 cases of unreported crypto income were investigated, with average fines reaching 400,000 rubles ($4,500). The government doesn’t just target big traders—it goes after students, freelancers, and retirees who earned a few thousand dollars in crypto gains. If you’re in Russia and holding crypto, you’re already in the system. The question isn’t whether you’ll be caught—it’s whether you’re prepared for what happens next.

Below, you’ll find real-world examples of how people handle crypto taxes in Russia, what exchanges are still accessible, and how recent legal shifts are changing behavior. No theory. No fluff. Just what’s actually happening on the ground.