When it comes to crypto exchanges in Russia, online platforms where users buy, sell, and trade digital assets under Russian legal constraints. Also known as Russian crypto trading platforms, these services operate in a legal gray zone—banned by the central bank but still used by millions who bypass restrictions with VPNs, peer-to-peer deals, and offshore accounts. The government doesn’t allow banks to touch crypto, and the Central Bank of Russia has repeatedly warned that exchanges are illegal. But that hasn’t stopped people from trading. In fact, Russia remains one of the top countries for peer-to-peer Bitcoin volume, with users turning to platforms like LocalBitcoins, P2P on Binance, and even Telegram-based traders to move money.
Many exchanges that once operated openly in Russia—like CoinBene, a low-fee exchange with poor transparency and no reliable customer support—have either shut down local operations or vanished entirely. Others, like OpenSwap, a platform falsely marketed as a decentralized exchange, turned out to be scams targeting Russian users looking for alternatives. Even platforms that claim to be "non-custodial" or "decentralized" often get blocked by Russian internet filters. The real players now are those that avoid Russian IP addresses entirely, rely on P2P networks, or use stablecoins like USDT to move value across borders without triggering bank alerts.
What’s left isn’t about fancy interfaces or low fees—it’s about survival. Russians use crypto not for speculation, but to protect savings from inflation, send money abroad, or pay for services blocked by sanctions. The tools they rely on are simple: hardware wallets like Ledger, encrypted messaging apps, and exchanges that don’t ask for ID. Some even trade through mining pools that pay out in Bitcoin instead of rubles. The key isn’t finding the "best" exchange—it’s finding one that won’t get you arrested, frozen out of your bank, or scammed.
Below, you’ll find real reviews of platforms that Russian users actually tried—and what happened when they did. Some were scams. Others were abandoned. A few still work, hidden in plain sight. This isn’t a list of recommendations. It’s a map of what’s broken, what’s still standing, and how people are making it work anyway.
In 2025, Russian citizens use offshore exchanges like Bybit and Gate.io, along with the ruble-backed A7A5 stablecoin, to trade crypto despite government restrictions and sanctions. Access is limited to those who bypass formal rules or qualify as high-net-worth investors.
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