What licenses or permits are required for a company to attract investments in cryptocurrency?

The legislation of the Russian Federation does not provide for the lawful possibility of raising investments in cryptocurrency, and, accordingly, does not establish any licensing procedures or mechanisms for obtaining permits for such activities. Accepting cryptocurrency as an investment contribution constitutes a violation of the established prohibition on the use of digital currency as a means of payment (Part 5 of Article 14 of Federal Law No. 259-FZ). Thus, even if an agreement is reached with investors, a company cannot obtain official authorization or a license to raise funds in cryptocurrency. Any attempts to structure such relationships in circumvention of the law (for example, by selling tokens in exchange for cryptocurrency) shall be regarded as a violation of the legal regime governing the circulation of digital currency in Russia. Legitimate mechanisms for raising investments currently include the issuance of digital financial assets (DFAs) or utilitarian digital rights (UDRs) through accredited platforms, where settlements are conducted exclusively in fiat currency.