The Bank of Russia announced a new pathway for investors to qualify as qualified investors, incorporating a financial and banking knowledge test and specific professional certificates.

Under the revised rules, individuals can be recognized as qualified investors by passing the knowledge exam and presenting documents such as the National Finance Association's Qualifin Certificate or the Moscow Exchange's Investor Certificate. The change takes effect on August 31, replacing the previous framework that recognized only certain international credentials in fields including financial analysis, investment advisory, asset management, and risk management.

In the crypto regulatory context, non-qualified investors may acquire digital assets through a single licensed intermediary up to 300,000 rubles per year, while qualified investors face a limit ten times higher.

Deputy Governor Mikhail Mamuta said the test aims to raise investors’ financial literacy so they understand and manage the risks before trading complex instruments.