Russia’s top court recognises crypto as protected property

Russia’s Constitutional Court ruled that cryptocurrencies fall under property law, delivering a major legal win for crypto holders.

Judges said there are no grounds to deny crypto owners judicial protection if assets were obtained legally.

Legal expert Ignat Likhunov said the decision will influence future civil and criminal cases involving digital assets.

“It sets a precedent for future investigations,”

Likhunov said.

The ruling stems from a 2023 civil dispute over a 1,000 USDT loan that was not repaid.

Lower courts had dismissed the case, arguing that existing digital asset laws did not cover stablecoins.

The Constitutional Court overturned that reasoning, saying property rights cannot be limited in this way.

Judges clarified that failure to report crypto holdings does not void ownership rights unless the assets were obtained illegally.

The court urged lawmakers to introduce clearer legislation defining the legal status of cryptocurrencies.

The decision comes as Russia prepares to update its crypto regulatory framework later this year.