Fines up to a million: how Russia will punish violations of crypto advertising rules
The Russian digital asset market is entering a new era of regulation, and now advertising campaigns by crypto companies will come under close scrutiny from three agencies at once. For violations of the new rules, legal entities face fines ranging from 100 thousand to 1 million rubles, and the control mechanism is already clearly outlined in legislation.
The base advertising fine for companies under Part 1 of Article 14.3 of the Administrative Code ranges from 100 to 500 thousand rubles. However, for mailings without recipients' consent, a separate, stricter provision is provided—here the penalty reaches 1 million rubles. This is a serious signal for market participants accustomed to aggressive marketing strategies.
Who imposes penalties and for what
Control is distributed among three key regulators. The FAS of Russia is responsible for compliance with general advertising standards, Roskomnadzor monitors the labeling of internet advertising and data transmission to the ERIR, and the Bank of Russia oversees regulated exchangers and digital depositories. Fines for violations in the labeling sphere for companies reach 500 thousand rubles.
The mechanism for detecting violations is as follows: a signal may come from a user, a competitor, or the regulator itself during an independent inspection. The FAS recommends recording a full screenshot of the page with the site address and date. The agency then evaluates the materials and, if there are grounds, initiates a case. The FAS commission reviews it, and if the advertising is deemed improper, an order is issued to eliminate the violation. It is important to note: no court appeal is required to impose a fine—the FAS acts independently, and the company has the right to appeal the decision later.
The key piece of evidence in such cases becomes the recorded advertising material with specific wording. For example, an exchanger that places a banner reading "USDT at the best rate. Exchange in two minutes. Buy now" risks facing an investigation.
A new philosophy of regulation
From September 1, the very philosophy of regulating crypto advertising changes. In 2024, the state banned advertising of the effectively unregulated market. Now, in 2026, the market is being institutionalized: legal circulation organizers are emerging, and along with them, the opportunity to advertise their activities.
The formula is simple: cryptocurrency itself cannot be advertised, but crypto infrastructure and regulated services can be. This is one of the most practical changes of the new regulation. For the first time, the market gains the opportunity to legally tell a client: "We provide exchange services" or "We carry out digital accounting."
However, the transition period adds uncertainty. The new rules are already in effect, but the Central Bank registry granting the right to use them in full is only being formed. Until July 1, 2027, many existing exchangers remain outside the new advertising regime.
My view: In the coming months, market participants will have to balance between the old operating model and new requirements. Caution in wording and completeness of mandatory disclosures will become the main defense against regulator claims. Those who adapt their advertising strategies in advance will gain a competitive advantage, while careless players risk becoming the first victims of the new enforcement practice.