Daily Summary2026-08-12

The Bank of Russia published a draft directive naming Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT as the only cryptocurrencies eligible for public exchange trading, under criteria requiring roughly $61 billion average market cap, $12 billion daily volume and five years of foreign price history — thresholds XRP misses. Non-qualified investors would face a 300,000-ruble (~$3,650) annual cap per intermediary and a mandatory risk test; qualified investors face no limit. Comments run until August 24, following the law signed August 4.

Coinbase received Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi Global Market's regulator on August 11, allowing it to arrange investment deals and provide custody, and named ADGM the hub for its international tokenisation business. Planned digital securities would be issued and registered in ADGM, fully backed by underlying shares, carrying dividend and voting rights subject to vesting — accessed with a wallet rather than a brokerage account. Transfers remain subject to sanctions screening and, where required, freeze or seizure; US investors aren't covered, and no launch timing or eligible markets were disclosed.