Fines up to a million: how Russia will punish violations in crypto advertising
The Russian crypto advertising market is entering a new era of strict regulation. Starting September 1, 2026, companies violating the rules for promoting digital services will face serious financial sanctions. The base fine for legal entities under Part 1 of Article 14.3 of the Administrative Code will range from 100,000 to 500,000 rubles — this is liability directly for advertising materials. However, for mailings without recipient consent, a separate, stricter offense is provided, where the penalty reaches 1 million rubles.
Who controls the market and how
Supervisory functions are distributed among three key agencies. The FAS Russia is responsible for compliance with general advertising requirements, Roskomnadzor oversees the labeling of internet advertising and data transmission via ERID, and the Bank of Russia supervises regulated exchangers and digital depositories. This multi-level system creates a dense control network where no violation will go unnoticed.
The mechanism for detecting violations is fairly transparent. Any user, competitor, or other interested party can file a complaint. In addition, the FAS has the right to initiate inspections on its own. As an example, one can cite a hypothetical situation: an exchanger places a banner on its website promising "USDT at the best rate. Exchange in two minutes. Buy now." The antimonopoly authority recommends recording a full screenshot of the page with the site address and date, after which it initiates a case on violation of advertising legislation.
The FAS commission reviews the materials, and if the advertising is deemed improper, an order is issued to cease the violation. Notably, the agency does not need to go to court to impose a fine — the ruling is issued directly. The company, however, retains the right to appeal the decision in court.
A new philosophy of regulation
From September 2026, the very concept of regulating the crypto market changes. In 2024, the state banned advertising of the effectively unregulated market, but now, with the emergence of legal circulation organizers, it becomes possible to promote their services. The key formula is simple: advertising cryptocurrency itself is still prohibited, but advertising crypto infrastructure and regulated services is allowed.
The transition period adds uncertainty. The new rules are already in effect, but the Central Bank registry, which grants the right to fully use the advertising regime, is only being formed. Until July 1, 2027, many existing exchangers remain outside the new system. Market participants will have to balance between the old operating model and new requirements, betting on cautious wording and full compliance with mandatory disclosures.
My expert view: This is a historic turning point for the Russian crypto market. For the first time, there is a legal opportunity to tell a client "we provide exchange services" or "we carry out digital accounting." However, in the coming months, the main risk will not be the fine itself, but legal uncertainty — those companies that fail to adapt in time risk becoming the first victims of the new regulatory machine.