Russia’s Central Bank Weighs Tokenization of Domestic Shares to Attract Foreign Investors

Key TakeawaysRussia’s Central Bank is exploring the tokenization of domestic company shares for access by foreign investors.The initiative aims to bypass traditional financial barriers and open Russian corporate equity to global digital markets.First Deputy Governor Sergey Chistyukhin said the plan is technically feasible but dependent on foreign partner cooperation.The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) is evaluating a framework that would allow the tokenization of shares in domestic companies, enabling foreign investors to purchase them on overseas platforms, according to local reports from Wushuo.Speaking at a financial innovation forum, First Deputy Governor Sergey Chistyukhin said the proposal could serve as a strategic tool to attract cross-border investment into Russian enterprises through digital assets and blockchain infrastructure.“The initiative is feasible,” Chistyukhin stated, “but its implementation depends on the readiness and cooperation of our foreign partners.”The tokenization plan comes amid growing interest among Russian regulators in digital asset-backed instruments, which could provide a regulated alternative to crypto while still benefiting from blockchain’s transparency and efficiency.If implemented, the move would align with Russia’s broader goal of modernizing capital markets and reducing dependence on Western financial systems by creating new on-chain investment pathways for international participants.