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Regulations governing transactions with crypto assets to come into  force on January 31, 2026

Regulations governing transactions with crypto assets to come into  force on January 31, 2026

ArmInfo. Regulations 7/01, 7/02, 7/04, and 7/05,  governing the activities of companies providing services using  cryptoassets in Armenia, will come into force on January 31, 2026.   This was noted in a statement by the Central Bank of the Republic of  Armenia.

Specifically, the first set of regulations is as follows:

1. Regulation 7/01 governs licensing (permission) and the acquisition  of majority stakes;

2. Regulation 7/02 establishes minimum requirements for total  capital;

3. Regulation 7/05 governs the registration of managers;

4. Regulation 7/04 governs the format and content of the cryptoasset  offering document. The Central Bank's announcement clarifies that  legal entities may provide crypto-related services in Armenia only if  registered and licensed by the Central Bank. Licensing requires, at a  minimum, the legal entity's registration with the Central Bank,  compliance with certain capital requirements depending on the type of  service, the existence of internal regulations, and a manager  registration procedure.

Legal entities and sole proprietors providing cryptoasset-related  services in Armenia on the effective date of the Law "On  Cryptoassets" (July 4, 2025) must be registered and licensed by the  Central Bank as cryptoasset service providers within one year of the  effective date of the aforementioned regulations (January 31, 2026).  Otherwise, they must cease providing or offering such services. This  approach also applies to legal entities reorganized after the  effective date of the Law "On Cryptoassets," only by changing their  legal form.

In addition, as the Central Bank explains, issuers or underwriters  that sold crypto-assets as part of a public offering in Armenia prior  to the entry into force of Regulation 7/04 are required to publish  and submit this document to the Central Bank within three months from  the date of entry into force of Regulation 7/04 (31.01.2026), but no  later than the last day of the third month (if these crypto-assets  are still in circulation and the legislation does not provide for  exceptions from the requirement to publish the document on the offer  of such assets).

As a reminder, the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Cryptoassets"  entered into force on July 4, 2025.  This law establishes general  rules for the offer, purchase, and sale of cryptoassets, the  provision of services, and market oversight. This regulation, while  maintaining a balance between promoting innovation and effective risk  management, brings clarity to the legal framework, creating the  opportunity for businesses to operate in a more predictable and  secure environment. The law also provides regulatory mechanisms to  ensure that only reliable and transparent companies can enter the  market, which is essential for protecting the rights of cryptoasset  buyers and increasing public confidence in this market. Furthermore,  the regulation is based on the principle of "same activity, same  risk, same regulation," according to which cryptoassets- related  activities, similar in nature to any traditional financial activity  and associated with similar risks, must be properly regulated. In  fact, as planned, six months after the Law's entry into force, the  Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia prepared for  implementation the main bylaws regulating the requirements stipulated  in it.

Furthermore, as the Central Bank explains, issuers or underwriters  who sold cryptoassets through a public offering in Armenia prior to  the entry into force of Regulation 7/04 are required to publish and  submit this document to the Central Bank within three months of the  effective date of Regulation 7/04 (January 31, 2026), but no later  than the last day of the third month (if these cryptoassets are still  in circulation and the law does not provide for exceptions to the  requirement to publish the offering document).