Scope of the Amendments
The Russian parliament has reportedly introduced a draft bill that would formally recognize cryptocurrency as marital property under Russian law, marking a significant step toward integrating digital assets into the country’s legal framework. The proposal, sponsored by Igor Antropenko, lawmaker from the United Russia party and a member of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade, was submitted for review to the Russian government and Central Bank Chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina.
According to a RIA Novosti report, the bill seeks to update Articles 34 and 36 of the Family Code to reflect the growing role of digital currency in personal finance. According to the explanatory note, any cryptocurrency acquired by either spouse during marriage would be considered joint property, while assets obtained before marriage or through gifts and inheritances would remain individually owned.
Antropenko emphasized the urgency of the reform, citing the increasing use of digital currencies by Russian citizens for investment and savings. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Western countries responded by freezing its assets and kicking it out of the global financial system. This left Russians unable to save or transact in Western currencies like the USD, which in turn forced them to resort to cryptocurrencies.
However, the absence of clear legislation defining the legal status of cryptocurrencies in marital contexts has raised serious concerns among legal experts and policymakers. Without explicit guidelines, there is a growing risk that spouses could exploit digital assets to conceal wealth accumulated during the marriage, potentially undermining equitable property division in divorce proceedings and creating loopholes that compromise financial transparency and fairness.
“The lack of regulation of the legal status of such assets in family relations and divorce proceedings creates the risk of infringement of the property rights of one of the spouses,” the note states. It also references Article 19 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law and equal rights for men and women.
The draft law has been sent to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the Central Bank for preliminary legal assessment. If passed, the legislation would provide clarity and legal protection for spouses navigating digital asset ownership in marriage and divorce, aligning family law with the realities of a digital economy.
FAQ 💡
- What does Russia’s new bill propose? It seeks to classify cryptocurrency acquired during marriage as joint marital property under Russian law.
- Who introduced the legislation? United Russia lawmaker Igor Antropenko submitted the draft to the government and the Central Bank.
- Why is this reform considered urgent? Russians increasingly use crypto for savings after sanctions limited access to traditional currencies.
- What risks does the bill aim to address? It targets loopholes that allow spouses to hide crypto assets during divorce proceedings.
