Russian Justice Ministry registers directive to raise asset threshold for qualified investors to 12 mln rubles

MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax) - The asset threshold for obtaining the status of a qualified investor is being raised from 6 million to 12 million rubles, and the corresponding directive from the Central Bank of Russia, registered by the Justice Ministry, has been published on the regulator's website.

Starting January 1, 2026, the threshold will be increased to 24 million rubles.

This measure is aimed at reducing instances where individuals obtain the status of a qualified investor without fully understanding the specific features of complex financial instruments and the associated risks, the Central Bank said. The directive will come into effect 10 days after its official publication.

The increase in the asset threshold is part of a reform of the qualification system prepared by the Central Bank. The main idea behind the reform is to significantly expand the opportunities for investors to become qualified based on criteria directly related to their qualifications, such as knowledge and experience, the head of the CBR's Consumer Rights Protection and Financial Services Accessibility Department Mikhail Mamuta said.

The law passed at the end of 2024 stipulates that an investor will be recognized as qualified if they meet the requirements related to education, work experience, academic degree, asset size, transaction experience or income level. The specific parameters for these criteria are not part of the law and will be established separately by the Central Bank.

The new asset threshold for qualified investors has been discussed for several years. Initially, the CBR planned to set it at 30 million rubles, but it softened its stance after criticism from market participants.

According to data from the Central Bank, the number of qualified investors reached 824,000 by the end of Q3 2024, up 25% year-on-year.