Russians Triple Their Investments in Cryptocurrency

Over the past three years, Russian households have tripled their median investments in cryptocurrency. This trend suggests rising interest in digital assets amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

Growing interest in crypto despite low adoption

According to the Russian Central Bank, citizens are showing greater interest in cryptocurrency. Median investments rose from 18,000 rubles in 2022 to 45,000 rubles in 2024 per household.

Interestingly, the average investment size fell from 245,000 to 189,000 rubles. This likely indicates an increase in the number of crypto investors, while individual contributions became smaller.

Still, only 0.5% of households actually hold any form of cryptocurrency.

Russians diversify into precious metals

The Central Bank also reported a sharp rise in investments in metal accounts. Median deposits increased sixfold from 6,000 rubles in 2022 to 38,000 rubles in 2024.

This growth has been partly attributed to the rising price of gold. So, citizens may be diversifying to protect wealth from inflation.

It reflects a broader trend toward alternative investments.

Traditional banking remains dominant

Despite these shifts, traditional financial tools still dominate household finances.

In 2024, 75.5% of households held financial assets, up from 72.9% in 2022. Most commonly, people rely on regular bank accounts and deposits.

However, crypto is gradually making its way into personal finance strategies.