Russian Central Bank to Open Cryptocurrency Exchange for 'Highly Qualified Investors Only'

Russia's central bank and finance ministry will open a cryptocurrency exchange for "highly qualified investors," local news agency Interfax reported on the 23rd. "This will legalize cryptocurrency assets and bring trading into the public eye, not across the country, of course, but as part of transactions permitted under an experimental legal regime."

The move was ordered by President Putin, and comes after a bill was submitted to the government to allow wealthy individuals to invest in cryptocurrencies on a three-year experimental basis. The country's finance ministry explained that the aim is to bring cryptocurrency trading "out of the shadows" and increase transparency.

Trading...