Demand for hardware crypto wallets in Russia has risen sharply ahead of a broader shift in the country's crypto rulebook.

CoinDesk reported that sales more than doubled in the first half of 2026, citing data from two large Russian retailers. M.Video, one of those retailers, separately said demand for hardware crypto wallets in the second quarter grew more than twofold from a year earlier.

The increase does not by itself prove a mass move to self-custody, but it is a clear signal that more consumers are looking at offline key storage as the local market adjusts to new constraints. Hardware wallets keep private keys away from internet-connected devices, making them a common choice for users who want direct control of crypto assets rather than leaving funds entirely with an exchange.

The timing matters because Russia is preparing to route crypto activity through regulated venues. CoinDesk reported that upcoming rules will require transactions to go through approved entities, with banks expected to refuse processing outside that framework. A broader crypto regime is also set to take effect Sept. 1.

For exchanges and wallet makers, the sales data points to a market where compliance pressure and self-custody demand are rising at the same time. For users, it suggests that regulatory clarity may come with less flexibility around where and how crypto transactions are handled.