Russia's State Duma is considering a significant legislative update in October 2025 that proposes formally recognizing cryptocurrency as joint marital property subject to division during divorce proceedings. State Duma member Igor Antropenko introduced the draft federal law, which seeks to amend Articles 34 and 36 of the nation's Family Code to bring legal structure to rapidly growing digital asset holdings.
The core of the proposal stipulates that digital currencies acquired by either spouse during the marriage term will be treated as shared assets. Conversely, the legislation carves out exceptions for crypto holdings obtained before the union or received via non-reciprocal transfers, such as gifts or inheritance, which would remain the exclusive property of the individual spouse. This measure has been formally submitted to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and shared with the Central Bank of Russia for expert review, aiming to resolve existing ambiguity and uphold spousal rights under Article 19 of the Russian Constitution.
This legislative push is set against a backdrop of substantial expansion in Russian digital asset activity. Data indicates an 86% surge in large-scale cryptocurrency transfers exceeding $10 million between July 2024 and June 2025, a rate that surpassed the rest of Europe during that period. Furthermore, the ruble-pegged stablecoin, A7A5, has established itself as the largest non-U.S. dollar stablecoin, achieving a market capitalization of $500 million.
Proponents argue that formalizing digital asset division is essential for protecting entitlements, aligning family law with modern financial realities. The broader regulatory challenge remains, as approximately 140,000 Bitcoin and altcoin mining operations currently exist in an unregulated sphere, obscuring the full scope of digital wealth. This move parallels international developments, such as South Korea's 2024 decision to recognize cryptocurrency as marital property, signaling Russia's intent to integrate novel financial instruments into its established legal frameworks.