The Central Bank of Russia approved NAUFOR to act as a self-regulatory organization for the cryptocurrency industry

According to Bitcoin Magazine, on October 29, the Central Bank of Russia approved the National Association of Participants in the Securities Market (NAUFOR) to become the country's first self-regulatory organization for cryptocurrency exchanges and digital custodians. This move implements the "Digital Currency and Digital Rights Law," which was passed by the State Duma in July, into an operational system. The law requires exchange operators and digital custodians to enter the central bank's registry and must join a self-regulatory organization.

The central bank's registry currently includes 23 cryptocurrency exchanges and 8 digital custodians, including VTB, Sberbank, and T-Bank's parent company T-Technologies. Companies listed in the registry must complete their membership within 90 days. The self-regulatory organization is responsible for setting industry standards, supervising members, and communicating with regulators on behalf of the industry.

NAUFOR stated that it will participate in the formulation of standards for the digital asset market and promote adjustments to the rules by the central bank. The association earlier this month obtained similar qualifications in the field of information system operators and currently has 725 members.

The law prohibits the use of Bitcoin for everyday payments, and domestic cryptocurrency payments remain banned. It also issues licenses to exchanges and custodians, limits retail investors' purchase amounts, and establishes state-regulated cross-border trading channels. Non-qualified retail investors can purchase up to 300,000 rubles, approximately $3,800, per year through a single intermediary. Additionally, the Moscow Exchange has tested cryptocurrency trading with professional market participants and plans to launch in December; Sberbank has also been approved to custody Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets.