Russia Proposes 0.5–2% Fees, Up to 3% on USDT, USDC and BNB Trades
CRCL•Moscow plans to impose transaction fees of 0.5–2% on designated 'unfriendly' cryptocurrencies and up to 3% on dollar-pegged stablecoins including USDT, USDC, and BNB. These measures, set for negotiation before the State Duma's second reading by July 1, target capital flows and favor ruble-aligned alternatives.
1. Fee Structure Details
Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov unveiled planned fees of 0.5–2% per transaction for broadly classified unfriendly crypto assets, rising to 3% for dollar-pegged stablecoins such as USDT, USDC and BNB, along with technical safeguards and trading limits to be negotiated.
2. Geopolitical Rationale
The measures target Western-linked issuers that have previously frozen wallets tied to sanctioned addresses, aiming to redirect investor capital from dollar-pegged instruments toward ruble-based or BRICS-aligned alternatives under the banner of investor protection.
3. Legislative Timeline
The crypto regulation framework passed its first State Duma reading 327–13 on April 21 and is scheduled for a second reading with a target completion date of July 1, 2026, and enforcement rules set to be operational by July 1, 2027.
